Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
38% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $19,847 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,614)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($324,800 vs $438,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charleston by $19,847/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$19,847
$83,891 vs $64,044/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
38% lower
357.6 vs 575.8 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$114k less
$324,800 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 16 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $324,800 median home), income ($83,891 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and West Palm Beach, FL are about 420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.