Charleston, SC vs Madera, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Charleston
66
#1592 nationally
Madera
65.3
#1641 nationally
Charleston leads in median household income ($76,819 vs $61,626). Charleston leads in average commute (24.6 min vs 28.3 min). Madera leads in walk score (42 vs 39).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Madera, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66 (#1592) | 65.3 (#1641) |
| Population | 156,042 | 68,079 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $596,437 | $426,523 |
| Median Household Income | $76,819 | $61,626 |
| Average Commute | 24.6 min | 28.3 min |
| Walk Score | 39 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 10.8 |
| School Rating | 6.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 115 | 119 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.7 | R+20.8 |
D
66 Score
Charleston, SC
Southern charm meets coastal living
Median Home
$596,437
Population
156,042
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southeast
View Charleston, SC →
D
65.3 Score
Madera, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$426,523
Population
68,079
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
42
Pacific
View Madera, CA →