Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Goodyear
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,711)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $13,416/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
49% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,416 more per year on average
Homes cost $43k less ($396,100 vs $438,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Goodyear
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$13,416
$97,307 vs $83,891/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
49% lower
182.2 vs 357.6 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$43k less
$396,100 vs $438,900
Goodyear
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 97,542 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 8 and Goodyear wins 15. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $396,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Goodyear, AZ are about 1,869 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.