Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Tyler
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,989 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Tyler
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($205,200 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,815)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
7% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $39,989/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$39,989
$103,045 vs $63,056/yr
Tyler
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
7% lower
391.2 vs 420.0 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$411k less
$205,200 vs $616,000
Tyler
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
16.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ 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) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 106,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $205,200 median home), income ($103,045 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Tyler, TX are about 1,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.