Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,868)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $48,356/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Charleston
Households earn $48,356 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $51k less ($387,900 vs $438,900)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Sugar Land
Median Income
$48,356
$132,247 vs $83,891/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
78% lower
78.0 vs 357.6 per 100k
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$51k less
$387,900 vs $438,900
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sugar Land, 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 | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sugar Land is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 16. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $387,900 median home), income ($83,891 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Sugar Land, TX are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.