Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Omaha
Nebraska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $13,689 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.7%)
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 10% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($210,300 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,517)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $13,689/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$13,689
$83,891 vs $70,202/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
3% lower
357.6 vs 369.0 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.2% unemployment
Omaha
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$229k less
$210,300 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 15 and Omaha wins 8. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $210,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Omaha, NE are about 1,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.