At a Glance
Median Income
$78,277
$37,755 per capita
Home Value
$187,900
Zillow: $242,280
Median Rent
$1,206/mo
24.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
510/100K
4,376/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%
82.1% high school+
Unemployment
2.7%
8.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
13.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
64°F
330 sunny days/yr
How Carlsbad Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Carlsbad's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Carlsbad a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Carlsbad residents earn a median household income of $78,277 , which is 4% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $37,755. The unemployment rate stands at 2.7% (25% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,976 business establishments, including 159 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Carlsbad is $187,900 , 33% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $242,280. Median rent is $1,206/month, with 24.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1969.
Safety & Crime
Carlsbad reports 510 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 34% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,376/100K. The murder rate is 7.1/100K.
Education
20.3% of adults in Carlsbad hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(40% below the national average).
82.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Carlsbad has an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C).
Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 84°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 12.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.
Data Overview
People
Population31,813
Median Age37.4 yrs
Density1,005/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.8%
Economy
A
Median Income$78,277
Per Capita$37,755
Unemployment2.7%
Poverty8.0%
County GDP$11,319M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,470
Housing
A+
Home Value$187,900
Rent$1,206
Ownership71.9%
Zillow$242,280
Housing Units13,714
Rent Burden24.3%
Crime
F
Violent510/100K
Property4,376/100K
Murder7.1/100K
Assault360/100K
Burglary934/100K
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes10.8%
Smoking13.8%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death12,798/100K
Climate
Avg Temp64°F
Sunny Days330/yr
Rain12.6 in/yr
AQI37 (Good)
Elevation3,123 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+20.3%
High School+82.1%
Graduate+7.1%
School Score4.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 77% / D 21%
Commute20 min
Broadband84.1%
Internet Speed41 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries2
Did You Know?
Carlsbad was founded in 1888.
The median home in Carlsbad was built in 1969.
The nearest airport is Lea County Regional (63 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.431 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
16.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 159 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 15 fatal vehicle crashes.