Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 22 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Salem
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
33% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $16,351 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($349,500 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,517)
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $16,351/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$16,351
$83,891 vs $67,540/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
33% lower
357.6 vs 532.2 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 83.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.4 on the COL index
Salem
Median Home Value
$89k less
$349,500 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 22 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Salem wins 6. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $349,500 median home), income ($83,891 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Salem, OR are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.