Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Charleston leads 18 of 22 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $23,952 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($358,400 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,517)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $23,952/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$23,952
$83,891 vs $59,939/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
13% lower
357.6 vs 408.7 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$81k less
$358,400 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charleston leads 18 of 22 categories. Charleston wins 18 and Elizabeth wins 4. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $358,400 median home), income ($83,891 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Elizabeth, NJ are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.