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Compare towns

Dublin vs Carlsbad

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

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Dublin, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 70,803 people
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Carlsbad, CAHomes around $1.59MCalifornia · 114,373 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.

Dublin$7,230/mo
Typical home $1.23M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76%+ · or rent about $3,191/mo · Housing →
Carlsbad$9,200/mo
Typical home $1.59M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.64% · or rent about $2,808/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
DublinCarlsbad
Snow a year0″0″
January low39°F47°F
July high89°F70°F
Growing season (days)292d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)94th59th
Outdoors & history
DublinCarlsbad
Conserved land10.4%29.7%
Settled1982—
National Register places12
Archive photos1613
Famous people born here—26
Community
DublinCarlsbad
Library hours a week49 hrs50 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.

Dublin ↔ Carlsbad410 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.

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

Dublin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dublin’s Town Square.

Carlsbad neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Carlsbad’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Dublin and Carlsbad

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

Bordering Dublin

Towns like Dublin

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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