Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Everett, WA
🏆 Charleston leads 19 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Everett
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
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 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Households earn $6,085 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Everett, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3219.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Charleston
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$6,085
$83,891 vs $77,806/yr
Charleston
Median Home Value
$32k less
$438,900 vs $471,200
Charleston
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 74.8°F
Everett
Violent Crime
26% lower
265.1 vs 357.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Everett, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $471,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,611⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $77,806 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Everett School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 74.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 110,847 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 48.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Everett's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 19 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 19 and Everett 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 Everett or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $471,200 median home), income ($83,891 vs $77,806), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Everett, WA are about 2,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.