City of North Charleston city hall · John Rutledge Smith / Public domainAndre Michaux North Charleston South Carolina · Mydogtryed / Public domainMontague Avenue, North Charleston · Thomson200 / CC0787 Assembly Line Tails (32910230421) · Edward Russell / CC BY 2.0
North Charleston is a mid-sized city of 115,755 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $58,534
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
North Charleston stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether North Charleston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All North Charleston city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.2
North Charleston's overall cost of living index is 98.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in North Charleston costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
North Charleston, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$243,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,288
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
49.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,534
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
North Charleston's violent crime rate is 810.5 per 100,000 residents
— 113% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
810.5 /100k
Property Crime
3955.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
North Charleston is served primarily by Charleston 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
North Charleston, SC
National Avg
School District
Charleston 01
—
Elementary Schools
52
—
Middle Schools
12
—
High Schools
18
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
North Charleston sees average highs of 60.2°F in January
and 91.3°F in July,
with 53.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes North Charleston roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $243,300 and median rent is $1,288/month.
North Charleston's violent crime rate is 810.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3955.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North Charleston are operated by Charleston 01.
The district has 52 elementary, 12 middle, and 18 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 26.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North Charleston, SC has a population of 115,755, a median household income of $58,534, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
North Charleston averages 60.2°F in January and 91.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.6 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North Charleston, SC is covered by 7 ZIP codes: 29485, 29406, 29405, 29418, 29420, 29456, 29404.
The population of North Charleston, South Carolina is 115,755 with a median age of 33.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North Charleston: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $243,300, median household income $58,534, crime index 203 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Charleston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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