Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (3.7%)
65% less violent crime than Victorville
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Households earn $18,145 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($300,600 vs $438,900)
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $18,145/yr
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$18,145
$83,891 vs $65,746/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
65% lower
357.6 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Home Value
$138k less
$300,600 vs $438,900
Victorville
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 15 and Victorville wins 8. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $300,600 median home), income ($83,891 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Victorville, CA are about 2,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.