Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
75% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $31,097 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°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 10% higher than Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($197,700 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $577/mo less ($940 vs $1,517)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $31,097/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$31,097
$83,891 vs $52,794/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
75% lower
357.6 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$241k less
$197,700 vs $438,900
Pueblo
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ 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 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 111,430 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 13 and Pueblo wins 10. 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $197,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Pueblo, CO are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.