Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Charleston leads 16 of 23 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
Toledo
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $38,486 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($98,800 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($854 vs $1,517)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $38,486/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$38,486
$83,891 vs $45,405/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
66% lower
357.6 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$340k less
$98,800 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $98,800 median home), income ($83,891 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Toledo, OH are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.