Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
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 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Stamford
Stamford, CT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Homes cost $31k less ($584,700 vs $616,000)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$2,327
$103,045 vs $100,718/yr
Stamford
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Violent Crime
63% lower
157.5 vs 420.0 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$31k less
$584,700 vs $616,000
Stamford
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Stamford
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $584,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.