Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Carson leads 14 of 22 categories
Carson
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Stockton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Stockton
Households earn $31,433 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.9%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
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)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($382,000 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,815)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $31,433/yr
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$31,433
$103,045 vs $71,612/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
63% lower
420.0 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$234k less
$382,000 vs $616,000
Stockton
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carson leads 14 of 22 categories. Carson wins 14 and Stockton wins 8. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $382,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Stockton, CA are about 333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.