Charleston SC vs Houston TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Charleston, SC
South Carolina · Population: 152,014
- Median HH Income$90,038
- Median Home Price$593,739
- Unemployment3.4%
- Bachelor's+57.7%
Houston, TX
Texas · Population: 2,300,419
- Median HH Income$62,894
- Median Home Price$265,062
- Unemployment6.7%
- Bachelor's+36.0%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Charleston
152,014
Houston
2,300,419
Houston +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Charleston
N/A
Houston
N/A
Median Age
Charleston
36.1
Houston
34.3
Houston +
Foreign Born
Charleston
5.4%
Houston
28.8%
Houston +
White
Charleston
72.9%
Charleston +
Houston
35.5%
Black
Charleston
17.4%
Houston
22.9%
Houston +
Asian
Charleston
2.2%
Houston
6.9%
Houston +
Hispanic
Charleston
5.9%
Houston
44.1%
Houston +
Spanish at Home
Charleston
N/A
Houston
N/A
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,014 | 2,300,419 | Houston + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 34.3 | Houston + |
| Foreign Born | 5.4% | 28.8% | Houston + |
| White | 72.9% | 35.5% | Charleston + |
| Black | 17.4% | 22.9% | Houston + |
| Asian | 2.2% | 6.9% | Houston + |
| Hispanic | 5.9% | 44.1% | Houston + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Charleston
$90,038
Charleston +
Houston
$62,894
Per Capita Income
Charleston
$58,583
Charleston +
Houston
$41,142
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Charleston
$54,550
Houston
$63,758
Houston +
Unemployment Rate
Charleston
3.4%
Charleston +
Houston
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Charleston
12.0%
Charleston +
Houston
19.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Charleston
57.7%
Charleston +
Houston
36.0%
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $90,038 | $62,894 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Income | $58,583 | $41,142 | Charleston + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $54,550 | $63,758 | Houston + |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 6.7% | Charleston + |
| Poverty Rate | 12.0% | 19.7% | Charleston + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 57.7% | 36.0% | Charleston + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Charleston
$593,739
Houston
$265,062
Houston +
Homeownership Rate
Charleston
55.6%
Charleston +
Houston
42.0%
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $593,739 | $265,062 | Houston + |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 42.0% | Charleston + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
398
Charleston +
Houston
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Charleston
1999
Charleston +
Houston
2339
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 442 | Charleston + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 2339 | Charleston + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
28.7%
Charleston +
Houston
38.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Charleston
9.5%
Charleston +
Houston
13.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Charleston
15.1%
Charleston +
Houston
17.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Charleston
8.7%
Charleston +
Houston
24.0%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Charleston
22.9%
Houston
16.7%
Houston +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Charleston
9.5%
Charleston +
Houston
13.6%
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 28.7% | 38.0% | Charleston + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.5% | 13.9% | Charleston + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.1% | 17.1% | Charleston + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.7% | 24.0% | Charleston + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 22.9% | 16.7% | Houston + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 9.5% | 13.6% | Charleston + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
65.9°F
Houston
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Charleston
51.0 in
Houston
48.7 in
Houston +
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 65.9°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 51.0 in | 48.7 in | Houston + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Charleston
8.6 µg/m³
Charleston +
Houston
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Charleston
75.0%
Charleston +
Houston
55.0%
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.6 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Charleston + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Charleston + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Charleston
25.4 min
Charleston +
Houston
29.6 min
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Houston, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.4 min | 29.6 min | Charleston + |
Which City is Right for You?
Charleston leads in median household income at $90,038, while houston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,062. On public safety, Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Houston. Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.7%.
Compare More Cities
Charleston, SC vs New York, NYCharleston, SC vs Los Angeles, CACharleston, SC vs Chicago, ILCharleston, SC vs Phoenix, AZCharleston, SC vs Philadelphia, PACharleston, SC vs San Antonio, TX