Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Charleston
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($161,800 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,517)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (2.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $24,637/yr
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $24,637 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$277k less
$161,800 vs $438,900
Abilene
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Median Income
$24,637
$83,891 vs $59,254/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
16% lower
357.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Charleston wins 13. 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 Abilene to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $438,900 median home), income ($59,254 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Charleston, SC are about 1,149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.