Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Allen leads 13 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Charleston
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $37,368 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $49k less ($390,200 vs $438,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Charleston, SC
Pros
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,747)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $37,368/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$37,368
$121,259 vs $83,891/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
70% lower
106.4 vs 357.6 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$49k less
$390,200 vs $438,900
Allen
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $83,891 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 94 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A (121) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 95.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 13 of 23 categories. Allen wins 13 and Charleston wins 10. 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 Allen to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $438,900 median home), income ($121,259 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Charleston, SC are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.