Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
Antioch
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $6,818 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Charleston, SC
Pros
41% less violent crime than Antioch
Rent averages $633/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Homes cost $132k less ($438,900 vs $570,900)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Antioch by $6,818/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$6,818
$90,709 vs $83,891/yr
Antioch
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
41% lower
357.6 vs 606.8 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$132k less
$438,900 vs $570,900
Charleston
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $83,891 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Antioch wins 7 and Charleston wins 16. 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 Antioch to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $438,900 median home), income ($90,709 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Charleston, SC are about 2,362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.