Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Torrance, 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
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $523k less ($438,900 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $615/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $25,663/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,663 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$523k less
$438,900 vs $962,300
Charleston
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$25,663
$109,554 vs $83,891/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
13% lower
311.2 vs 357.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 95.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Torrance 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $962,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Torrance, CA are about 2,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.