Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 22 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
San Jose
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $534k less ($616,000 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $711/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,526)
31% less violent crime than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $32,965/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,965 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Violent Crime
31% lower
420.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Carson
Median Home Value
$534k less
$616,000 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Income
$32,965
$136,010 vs $103,045/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
San Jose
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 22 categories. Carson wins 10 and San Jose wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carson to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($103,045 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and San Jose, CA are about 312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.