Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 22 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,624 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($174,100 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $777/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,815)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $55,624/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$55,624
$103,045 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$442k less
$174,100 vs $616,000
Waco
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 22 categories. Carson wins 8 and Waco wins 14. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.