Charleston, SC vs Matthews, NC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Charleston
66
#1592 nationally
Matthews
68.7
#1294 nationally
Charleston leads in walk score (39 vs 16). Matthews leads in median household income ($103,405 vs $76,819). Charleston leads in average commute (24.6 min vs 26.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Matthews, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66 (#1592) | 68.7 (#1294) |
| Population | 156,042 | 30,934 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $596,437 | $514,763 |
| Median Household Income | $76,819 | $103,405 |
| Average Commute | 24.6 min | 26.9 min |
| Walk Score | 39 | 16 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 5.1 |
| School Rating | 6.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 115 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.7 | D+32.9 |
D
66 Score
Charleston, SC
Southern charm meets coastal living
Median Home
$596,437
Population
156,042
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southeast
View Charleston, SC →
D+
68.7 Score
Matthews, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$514,763
Population
30,934
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
16
Southeast
View Matthews, NC →
Try a different matchup
Swap Charleston for: