Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 12 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,622)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Median income trails Pearland by $27,232/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Charleston
Homes cost $128k less ($311,100 vs $438,900)
Households earn $27,232 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$27,232
$111,123 vs $83,891/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
73% lower
95.9 vs 357.6 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$128k less
$311,100 vs $438,900
Pearland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Pearland, 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 | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 12 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 11 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Pearland, TX are about 934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.