Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
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
Oxnard
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
40% less violent crime than Oxnard
Homes cost $148k less ($438,900 vs $587,200)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,907)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Cons
Median income trails Oxnard by $6,518/yr
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Households earn $6,518 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,907/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
40% lower
357.6 vs 596.4 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$148k less
$438,900 vs $587,200
Charleston
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$6,518
$90,409 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 12.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 202,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Oxnard wins 7. 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 Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $587,200 median home), income ($83,891 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Oxnard, CA are about 2,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.