Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville 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 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($438,900 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,940)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $28,374/yr
Roseville, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $28,374 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$158k less
$438,900 vs $596,700
Charleston
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Roseville
Median Income
$28,374
$112,265 vs $83,891/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
39% lower
219.2 vs 357.6 per 100k
Roseville
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 11 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $596,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Roseville, CA are about 2,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.