Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 21 categories
Carson
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1065k less ($616,000 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1175/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,990)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $71,461/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,461 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Carson
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Home Value
$1065k less
$616,000 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$71,461
$174,506 vs $103,045/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
42% lower
244.5 vs 420.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Sunnyvale, 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 | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 21 categories. Carson wins 6 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.