Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 15 of 22 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,107 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($423,500 vs $616,000)
6% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $20,107/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$20,107
$103,045 vs $82,938/yr
Sparks
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
6% lower
394.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$193k less
$423,500 vs $616,000
Sparks
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 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) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 22 categories. Carson wins 7 and Sparks wins 15. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Sparks, NV are about 404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.