Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 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
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
66% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $27,771 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($133,800 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,517)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $27,771/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$27,771
$83,891 vs $56,120/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
66% lower
357.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Kansas City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$305k less
$133,800 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 155,438 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $133,800 median home), income ($83,891 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Kansas City, KS are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.