Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 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
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
47% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Households earn $19,640 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($196,700 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,517)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $19,640/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$19,640
$83,891 vs $64,251/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
47% lower
357.6 vs 676.0 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$242k less
$196,700 vs $438,900
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $196,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,018 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.