Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 13 of 21 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
West Covina
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,054)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Homes cost $49k less ($616,000 vs $664,500)
Households earn $6,826 more per year on average
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
West Covina, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$6,826
$103,045 vs $96,219/yr
Carson
Median Home Value
$49k less
$616,000 vs $664,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
West Covina
Violent Crime
43% lower
239.3 vs 420.0 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.2% ✓ 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, West Covina leads 13 of 21 categories. Carson wins 8 and West Covina wins 13. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $664,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and West Covina, CA are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.