Carlsbad vs Vista
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $762,400 in Vista and $1,257,000 in Carlsbad.
- Households earn more in Carlsbad ($142,748 vs $94,975 median).
Side by side
| Carlsbad, CA | Vista, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 112,260 | 98,274 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2.2% | -0.5% |
| People per square mile | 2,969 | 5,180 |
| Median age | 42.5 | 35.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $142,748 | $94,975 |
| Median home value | $1,257,000 | $762,400 |
| Home value to income | 8.8× | 8.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,808 | $2,249 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 111.9 | 111.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 179.3 | 179.3 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $83,900 | $83,900 |
| Homeowners | 63% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 27.1 | 26.7 |
| Work from home | 32% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.5% | 6.6% |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 65° / 48° | 65° / 48° |
| July high / low | 74° / 64° | 74° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 11 in | 11 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 3 | 3 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 12 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 18% | 18% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.5% | +2.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +40.8% | +40.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Carlsbad: January to December. Vista: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Carlsbad weather by month and Vista weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $83,900 in Carlsbad and $83,900 in Vista. Moving from Carlsbad to Vista, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.