Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Carson leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Toledo
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,640 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $517k less ($98,800 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $961/mo less ($854 vs $1,815)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $57,640/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$57,640
$103,045 vs $45,405/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
60% lower
420.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$517k less
$98,800 vs $616,000
Toledo
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carson leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 13 and Toledo wins 10. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $98,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Toledo, OH are about 1,955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.