Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
High Point
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($196,500 vs $343,000)
30% less violent crime than Redding
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,278)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Redding by $8,741/yr
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Redding, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,741 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 52°F
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 High Point
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Violent Crime
30% lower
454.8 vs 647.8 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$147k less
$196,500 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$8,741
$67,323 vs $58,582/yr
Redding
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
High Point is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. High Point wins 11 and Redding wins 11. 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 High Point to Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $343,000 median home), income ($58,582 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Redding, CA are about 2,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.