Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Chino leads 14 of 23 categories
Chino
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,290 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Columbia
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($226,200 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $896/mo less ($1,105 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Chino
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $45,290/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$45,290
$99,385 vs $54,095/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
61% lower
299.5 vs 769.9 per 100k
Chino
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Columbia
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$373k less
$226,200 vs $599,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,105 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chino leads 14 of 23 categories. Chino wins 14 and Columbia 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 Chino to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $226,200 median home), income ($99,385 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Columbia, SC are about 2,093 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.