Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $305/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,822)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Median income trails Surprise by $3,865/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Charleston
Homes cost $86k less ($352,600 vs $438,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Households earn $3,865 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$3,865
$87,756 vs $83,891/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
69% lower
109.1 vs 357.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$86k less
$352,600 vs $438,900
Surprise
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($83,891 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Surprise, AZ are about 1,870 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.