Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 22 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
Charleston
South Carolina
14
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($242,300 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,517)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $36,093/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $36,093 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$197k less
$242,300 vs $438,900
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Median Income
$36,093
$83,891 vs $47,798/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
12% lower
357.6 vs 406.1 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A (121) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 149,960 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 22 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 8 and Charleston wins 14. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $438,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Charleston, SC are about 211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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