Charleston, SC vs Sullivan's Island, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlestonCharleston, SC | Sullivan's IslandSullivan's Island, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Elite | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 0 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Sullivan's Island, SC reports no such incidents, while Charleston, SC recorded 280 per 100,000 in 2025 figures, placing Charleston in the 59th percentile and Sullivan's Island in the 1st percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people also differs, with Charleston at 1,610 (62nd percentile) versus Sullivan's Island at 714 (18th percentile), making Charleston's rate 2.3 times higher. Both places share a falling 5-year violent crime trend and identical traffic death rates of 32 per 100,000, each in the 77th percentile.
Population figures diverge sharply: Charleston's 152,014 residents (93rd percentile) far exceed Sullivan's Island's 2,127 (9th percentile), and Charleston's population density of 1,318 per square mile is 55% higher than Sullivan's Island's 851. Median age also contrasts, with Sullivan's Island at 52.9 years (95th percentile) being 16.8 years older than Charleston's 36.1 (34th percentile). Average household size is 2.6 in Sullivan's Island (68th percentile) and 2.2 in Charleston (19th percentile), an 18% difference.
Median household income in Charleston is $90,038 (69th percentile), while Sullivan's Island reports $179,614 (97th percentile), which is 99% higher. The share of workers who work from home is 17.6% in Charleston (78th percentile) compared to 11.1% in Sullivan's Island (53rd percentile), a 6.5-point gap. Both places share a 3.3% unemployment rate and a 1.6% job growth rate, each in the 34th and 67th percentiles respectively, based on 2023 Census data.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Charleston or Sullivan's Island?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15178th pctl | 40899th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Charleston, SC 151; Sullivan's Island, SC 408; Sullivan's Island is 2.7 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $469,10080th pctl | $2,000,00199th pctl | Median home value: Charleston, SC $469,100; Sullivan's Island, SC $2,000,001; Sullivan's Island is 4.3 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,63276th pctl | $2,40296th pctl | Median rent: Charleston, SC $1,632; Sullivan's Island, SC $2,402; Sullivan's Island is 47% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $90,03870th pctl | $179,61497th pctl | Median household income: Charleston, SC $90,038; Sullivan's Island, SC $179,614; Sullivan's Island is 99% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $91,13881st pctl | $320,90599th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charleston, SC $91,138; Sullivan's Island, SC $320,905; Sullivan's Island is 3.5 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $133,97381st pctl | $471,73099th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charleston, SC $133,973; Sullivan's Island, SC $471,730; Sullivan's Island is 3.5 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Charleston, SC C+; Sullivan's Island, SC F; Charleston is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Sullivan's Island needs about
$202,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 151 vs 408). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.6%67th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $58,58386th pctl | $120,59298th pctl | Per-capita income: Charleston, SC $58,583; Sullivan's Island, SC $120,592; Sullivan's Island is 2.1 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.0%52nd pctl | 8.3%32nd pctl | Poverty rate: Charleston, SC 12.0%; Sullivan's Island, SC 8.3%; Charleston is 3.7 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 23.8 min53rd pctl | 25.6 min65th pctl | Average commute: Charleston, SC 23.8 min; Sullivan's Island, SC 25.6 min; Sullivan's Island is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.6%78th pctl | 11.1%53rd pctl | Work from home: Charleston, SC 17.6%; Sullivan's Island, SC 11.1%; Charleston is 6.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: Charleston, SC B-; Sullivan's Island, SC A+; Sullivan's Island is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 28059th pctl | 01st pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 280; Sullivan's Island, SC 0; Charleston is higher (Sullivan's Island: 0). |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,61063rd pctl | 71418th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 1,610; Sullivan's Island, SC 714; Charleston is 2.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Charleston, SC C+; Sullivan's Island, SC A+; Sullivan's Island is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in South Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See South Carolina →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 637 mi79th pctl | 636 mi79th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Weak | Fair | Target proximity: Charleston, SC C; Sullivan's Island, SC B; Sullivan's Island is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 696 mi90th pctl | 699 mi91st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 3 mi4th pctl | 5 mi5th pctl | Distance to coastline: Charleston, SC 3 mi; Sullivan's Island, SC 5 mi; Sullivan's Island is 36% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,01493rd pctl | 2,1279th pctl | Population: Charleston, SC 152,014; Sullivan's Island, SC 2,127; Charleston is 149,887 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,31839th pctl | 85122nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charleston, SC 1,318; Sullivan's Island, SC 851; Charleston is 55% higher. |
| Median age | 36.134th pctl | 52.995th pctl | Median age: Charleston, SC 36.1; Sullivan's Island, SC 52.9; Sullivan's Island is 16.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7%86th pctl | 87.2%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Charleston, SC 57.7%; Sullivan's Island, SC 87.2%; Sullivan's Island is 29.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.219th pctl | 2.668th pctl | Average household size: Charleston, SC 2.2; Sullivan's Island, SC 2.6; Sullivan's Island is 18% larger. |
More about Charleston's residents · Sullivan's Island's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | CharlestonCharleston, SC | Sullivan's IslandSullivan's Island, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+13 | R+6 |
| 2024 presidential | D +23.0 pts | R +13.0 pts |
Full politics data: Charleston · Sullivan's Island
Moving between Charleston and Sullivan's Island
- Median rent: $1,632 in Charleston, $2,402 in Sullivan's Island
- Median home value: $469,100 in Charleston, $2,000,001 in Sullivan's Island
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 151 in Charleston, 408 in Sullivan's Island
- Median household income: $90,038 in Charleston, $179,614 in Sullivan's Island
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $133,973 in Charleston, $471,730 in Sullivan's Island
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Charleston, 3.3% in Sullivan's Island
- Average commute: 23.8 min in Charleston, 25.6 min in Sullivan's Island
- Violent crime per 100k: 280 in Charleston, 0 in Sullivan's Island
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Charleston and Sullivan's Island against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Charleston or Sullivan's Island?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Charleston and Sullivan's Island
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.