Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($438,900 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,184)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $21,643/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $21,643 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$219k less
$438,900 vs $657,400
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$21,643
$105,534 vs $83,891/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
18% lower
293.7 vs 357.6 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 11 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 12. 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $657,400 median home), income ($83,891 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.