Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 22 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
Pasadena
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.7%)
37% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,193 more per year on average
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 2% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($171,600 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,517)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 58°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $19,193/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$19,193
$83,891 vs $64,698/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
37% lower
357.6 vs 566.1 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$267k less
$171,600 vs $438,900
Pasadena
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ 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 | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 22 categories. Charleston wins 14 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $171,600 median home), income ($83,891 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Pasadena, TX are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.