Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $34,038 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Evansville
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($121,100 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($917 vs $1,517)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $34,038/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$34,038
$83,891 vs $49,853/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
70% lower
357.6 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Evansville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$318k less
$121,100 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 47.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Evansville 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $121,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Evansville, IN are about 555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.