Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Pomona, 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
50% less violent crime than Pomona
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Homes cost $86k less ($438,900 vs $524,700)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$10,376
$83,891 vs $73,515/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
50% lower
357.6 vs 715.9 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$86k less
$438,900 vs $524,700
Charleston
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Pomona'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 Pomona 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $524,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Pomona, CA are about 2,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.