Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($172,700 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $520/mo less ($997 vs $1,517)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $23,263/yr
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Charleston, SC
Pros
48% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $23,263 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°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 12% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$266k less
$172,700 vs $438,900
Amarillo
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Median Income
$23,263
$83,891 vs $60,628/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
48% lower
357.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 149,960 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo 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 Amarillo to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $438,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Charleston, SC are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.