Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Redding, 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 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
45% less violent crime than Redding
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $16,568 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($343,000 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,517)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $16,568/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$16,568
$83,891 vs $67,323/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
45% lower
357.6 vs 647.8 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.4 on the COL index
Redding
Median Home Value
$96k less
$343,000 vs $438,900
Redding
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $343,000 median home), income ($83,891 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Redding, CA are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.