Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($141,900 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,517)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $33,399/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.7%)
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $33,399 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$297k less
$141,900 vs $438,900
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.5°F
Charleston
Median Income
$33,399
$83,891 vs $50,492/yr
Charleston
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 95 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 94 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 149,960 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Charleston leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 9 and Charleston wins 11. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $438,900 median home), income ($50,492 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Charleston, SC are about 127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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