Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($438,900 vs $563,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $6,777/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $6,777 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$124k less
$438,900 vs $563,200
Charleston
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$6,777
$90,668 vs $83,891/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
6% lower
335.1 vs 357.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A (119) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Quincy wins 7. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $563,200 median home), income ($83,891 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Quincy, MA are about 815 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.