Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 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
Population
149,960
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $17,804 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($247,900 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,517)
27% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $17,804/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$17,804
$83,891 vs $66,087/yr
Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
27% lower
262.0 vs 357.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$191k less
$247,900 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $66,087 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 46.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 49.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $247,900 median home), income ($83,891 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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