Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Households earn $6,323 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
51% less violent crime than Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,517)
Homes cost $46k less ($392,900 vs $438,900)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $6,323/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$6,323
$83,891 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
51% lower
174.5 vs 357.6 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$46k less
$392,900 vs $438,900
Orem
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 11 and Orem wins 12. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $392,900 median home), income ($83,891 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Orem, UT are about 1,824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.