Quality of life comparison
If you lived in California instead of South Carolina, you would:
Health
live 4.2 years longer
In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In California, that number is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 19.8% less likely to be obese
In South Carolina, 35.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In California, that number is 28.4% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 68.3% more money
South Carolina has a GDP per capita of $49,914 as of 2024, while in California, the GDP per capita is $84,028 as of 2024.
Safety
be 10.7% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Carolina has a violent crime rate of 454 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In California, that number is 503 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 44.2% more money
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 as of 2023, while in California, it is $96,334 as of 2023.
pay 2.9 times more for a home
The median home value in South Carolina is $236,700 as of 2023, compared to $695,400 in California as of 2023.
pay 73.7% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Carolina is $1,126 as of 2023, while in California, it is $1,956 as of 2023.
be 21.8% less likely to own your home
In South Carolina, 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In California, that number is 55.8% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 26.1% less likely to be uninsured
In South Carolina, 9.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In California, that number is 6.8% as of 2023.
be 26.1% less likely to smoke
In South Carolina, 15.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In California, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 22.5% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Carolina, 20.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In California, that number is 25.0% as of 2023.
be 4.2 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Carolina, 2.9% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In California, that number is 12.2% as of 2023.
commute 3.4 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Carolina takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In California, it takes 29.0 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 2.5 years older on average
The median age in South Carolina is 40.1 years as of 2023. In California, the median age is 37.6 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 40.4% more densely populated
South Carolina has a population density of 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023. In California, that number is 97.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 11.8% more likely to be food insecure
In South Carolina, 9.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In California, that number is 10.4% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
