Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Sunnyvale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $1242k less ($438,900 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1473/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,990)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $90,615/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $90,615 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$1242k less
$438,900 vs $1,680,700
Charleston
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$90,615
$174,506 vs $83,891/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
32% lower
244.5 vs 357.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 12 and Sunnyvale wins 11. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.