Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
San Leandro, 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 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($438,900 vs $772,700)
35% less violent crime than San Leandro
Rent averages $480/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,997)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $13,250/yr
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,250 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
35% lower
357.6 vs 548.7 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$334k less
$438,900 vs $772,700
Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$13,250
$97,141 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $772,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and San Leandro, CA are about 2,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.