Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Redding
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($226,200 vs $343,000)
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $173/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,278)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Redding by $13,228/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $13,228 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Columbia
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$117k less
$226,200 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$13,228
$67,323 vs $54,095/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
16% lower
647.8 vs 769.9 per 100k
Redding
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Redding 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 Columbia to Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $343,000 median home), income ($54,095 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Redding, CA are about 2,301 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.