Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Clovis
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($312,800 vs $420,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,482)
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clovis by $24,484/yr
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clovis, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Charlotte
Households earn $24,484 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Charlotte
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$108k less
$312,800 vs $420,700
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Median Income
$24,484
$98,554 vs $74,070/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
67% lower
244.6 vs 733.2 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $420,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,482⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $98,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 14 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 9 and Clovis wins 14. 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 Charlotte to Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $420,700 median home), income ($74,070 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Clovis, CA are about 2,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.