Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Elgin
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($242,500 vs $438,900)
25% less violent crime than Charleston
Rent averages $327/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,517)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 84.1°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.4 on the COL index
Elgin
Median Income
$2,107
$85,998 vs $83,891/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
25% lower
266.7 vs 357.6 per 100k
Elgin
Median Home Value
$196k less
$242,500 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $85,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 114,190 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Elgin wins 9. 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 Charleston to Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $242,500 median home), income ($83,891 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Elgin, IL are about 783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.