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Compare towns

Carlsbad vs Dublin

410 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+48.8 pts in Dublin) and trails (6.3× in Carlsbad).

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Carlsbad, CAHomes around $1.59MCalifornia · 114,373 people
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Dublin, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 70,803 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,970 more a month in Carlsbad

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Carlsbad$9,200/mo
Typical home $1.59M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.64% · or rent about $2,808/mo · Housing →
Dublin$7,230/mo
Typical home $1.23M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76%+ · or rent about $3,191/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,970 a month, about $23,600 a year, between Carlsbad and Dublin.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Report cards

Dublin places higher on 13 of 21 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
CarlsbadDublin
Snow a year0″0″
January low47°F39°F
July high70°F89°F
Growing season (days)365d292d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)59th94th
Outdoors & history
CarlsbadDublin
Conserved land29.7%10.4%
Settled—1982
National Register places21
Archive photos1316
Famous people born here26—
Community
CarlsbadDublin
Library hours a week50 hrs49 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

410 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Carlsbad ↔ Dublin410 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

CarlsbadDublin
People
Population 114,373Highest 70,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +8.9%Lowest CA: +6.1% +57.7%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 42.5±1Highest 12% above CA 37.4±0.7Lowest about the CA average
Kids under 18 23.4%±1.4Lowest CA: 22% 25%±1.3Highest CA: 22%
Dublin and Carlsbad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.8%±0.9Highest CA: 15.7% 9.6%±0.9Lowest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 62.1%Lowest CA: 37.1% 69.8%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±0.6Lowest CA: 7.6% 5.9%±0.8Highest CA: 7.6%
Dublin and Carlsbad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $142,748±$8kLowest 44% above CA $214,385±$9kHighest 116% above CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,257,000±$36kLowest 71% above CA $1,317,100±$41kHighest 79% above CA
Dublin and Carlsbad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,808±$100Lowest 38% above CA $3,191±$66Highest 57% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $8,020Lowest 57% above CA $10,000+Highest at least 95% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 56.6%±4.5Highest CA: 55.3% 43.4%±5.3Lowest CA: 55.3%
Below poverty line 6.9%Highest CA: 12% 4.5%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 62.9%Lowest CA: 55.9% 65.7%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1989Lowest 13 yrs newer than CA 2004Highest 28 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 6% below CA 36 minHighest 25% above CA
Work from home 31.9%±2Lowest CA: 17.2% 34.7%±2.4Highest CA: 17.2%
Dublin and Carlsbad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 22.4%Highest 6.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 22.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.64Highest 0.70Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Diego (25%)San Francisco (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DublinFew work in Carlsbad
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 29.7%Highest 10.4%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 135.7 miHighest 21.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 3.5 miHighest 1.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 32Highest 26Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 84.8Lowest 115Highest
Schools
School district Carlsbad Unified · Encinitas Union ElementaryDublin Unified
High school in town Carlsbad HighDublin High
Students per teacherat that high school 23.8Lowest 24.8Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Carlsbad neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Carlsbad’s Town Square.

Dublin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dublin’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Carlsbad and Dublin

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Carlsbad

Towns like Carlsbad

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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