Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
66% less violent crime than Tacoma
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Homes cost $24k less ($415,300 vs $438,900)
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$4,806
$83,891 vs $79,085/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
66% lower
357.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$24k less
$415,300 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $415,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Tacoma, WA are about 2,421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.