Residential comparison · 13 facts
Bluffton, SC vs Charleston, SC
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Bluffton needs about $84,000 in Charleston to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Charleston, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $86,000 in Bluffton.
A few differences
- Charleston is lower on property tax rate (0.5% vs 0.55%).
- Bluffton is lower on sales tax (7.5% vs 9%).
- Bluffton is lower on groceries index (98 vs 103).
Bluffton vs Charleston · facet by facet
| Facet | Bluffton, SC | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $492,100 | $550,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,028/mo | $2,050/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.5% |
| State & local income tax | 3.39% | 3.39% |
| Sales tax | 7.5% | 9% |
| Cost of living index | 112 | 108 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 103 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $185/mo |
| Median household income | $111,281 | $78,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3% |
| Crime index | 65/100 | 42/100 |
| School rating | 5.0/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 220 days | 230 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Bluffton, SC · Charleston, SC
Questions & answers
- Is Bluffton cheaper than Charleston?
- Charleston has the lower day-to-day cost index (108 vs 112 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Charleston equals $85,000 in Bluffton?
- A household earning $85,000 in Bluffton needs about $84,000 in Charleston to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Charleston lifestyle costs about $86,000 in Bluffton.