Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Jersey City
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
36% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,799)
Homes cost $61k less ($438,900 vs $500,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $7,260/yr
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $7,260 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
36% lower
357.6 vs 561.6 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$61k less
$438,900 vs $500,100
Charleston
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Median Income
$7,260
$91,151 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Jersey City, 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 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 17 and Jersey City wins 6. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $500,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Jersey City, NJ are about 635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.