Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Tracy, 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
Tracy
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,162)
Homes cost $178k less ($438,900 vs $617,300)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $27,826/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,826 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Charleston
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$178k less
$438,900 vs $617,300
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$27,826
$111,717 vs $83,891/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
16% lower
301.4 vs 357.6 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $617,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Tracy, CA are about 2,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.