Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lakewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $55k less ($438,900 vs $494,100)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,665)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$1,105
$83,891 vs $82,786/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
55% lower
357.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$55k less
$438,900 vs $494,100
Charleston
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Lakewood wins 7. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $494,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Lakewood, CO are about 1,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.