Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 18 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($438,900 vs $791,000)
21% less violent crime than Fullerton
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $15,388/yr
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,388 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
21% lower
357.6 vs 455.3 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$352k less
$438,900 vs $791,000
Charleston
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$15,388
$99,279 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 18 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 18 and Fullerton wins 5. 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 Charleston to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $791,000 median home), income ($83,891 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Fullerton, CA are about 2,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.