Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Oceanside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($438,900 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $561/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,078)
22% less violent crime than Oceanside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $2,810/yr
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Households earn $2,810 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
22% lower
357.6 vs 458.7 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$206k less
$438,900 vs $644,600
Charleston
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 76.5°F
Oceanside
Median Income
$2,810
$86,701 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $644,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,078⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $86,701 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 13.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 173,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Oceanside wins 9. 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 Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $644,600 median home), income ($83,891 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Oceanside, CA are about 2,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.