Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,162)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°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 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Households earn $8,672 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$8,672
$111,717 vs $103,045/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
28% lower
301.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Tracy, 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 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 22 categories. Carson wins 10 and Tracy wins 12. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $617,300 median home), income ($103,045 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Tracy, CA are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.