Is private school cheaper in Charleston or Hartford?

Charleston has lower average private school tuition at $9,400/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. That's $18,600/year less, or $241,800 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Charleston over Hartford?

Average tuition in Charleston is $18,600/year less than Hartford. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $241,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,800/year in Charleston, $15,800/year in Hartford.

How do Charleston and Hartford private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Charleston averages $9,400/year ($2,950 below average). Hartford averages $28,000/year ($15,650 above average).

Private School Cost: Charleston vs Hartford

Charleston averages $18,600/year less for private school (198% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $241,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Charleston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Charleston

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg

Lower cost

Hartford

$28,000

avg tuition/year

$15,650 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Charleston	Hartford	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,400/yr	$28,000/yr	-$18,600
Religious Schools	$6,800/yr	$15,800/yr	-$9,000
Independent/Prep	$19,400/yr	$44,500/yr	-$25,100
Elementary (K-5)	$8,000/yr	$22,800/yr	-$14,800
Middle School (6-8)	$9,400/yr	$28,000/yr	-$18,600
High School (9-12)	$11,300/yr	$35,000/yr	-$23,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charleston

$122,200

Hartford

$364,000

Choosing Charleston saves $241,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $483,600.

Sample Schools

Charleston

Porter-Gaud School

Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr

Bishop England High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Hartford

Kingswood Oxford School

Independent · 6–12 · $44,800-$47,200/yr

Loomis Chaffee School

Independent (Day) · 9–12 · $48,200/yr

Watkinson School

Independent · 6–12 · $36,800/yr

Northwest Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Full Charleston breakdown → Full Hartford breakdown →

South Carolina private school costs Connecticut private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.