Carthage, TN vs Charleston, TN

Charleston is moderately more affordable than Carthage, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Carthage scores 78 compared to 73 for Charleston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carthage can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carthage is $820/month compared to $871/month in Charleston — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carthage has cheaper rent, Charleston actually has lower median home values ($185,000 vs $239,600).

Median household income in Carthage is $65,288 compared to $72,208 in Charleston (-9.6%). Charleston offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carthage spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, more than the 14.5% in Charleston.