Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($438,900 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $251/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $20,306/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
57% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $20,306 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$213k less
$438,900 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$20,306
$104,197 vs $83,891/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
57% lower
152.5 vs 357.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $651,800 median home), income ($83,891 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.