Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Frisco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($438,900 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $60,676/yr
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,676 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$93k less
$438,900 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$60,676
$144,567 vs $83,891/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
72% lower
100.9 vs 357.6 per 100k
Frisco
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 9 and Frisco wins 14. 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $531,400 median home), income ($83,891 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Frisco, TX are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.