Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $274/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,288)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Households earn $2,969 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
31% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Albuquerque
Median income trails Albuquerque by $2,969/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$2,969
$61,503 vs $58,534/yr
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 91.3°F
North Charleston
Violent Crime
31% lower
810.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and North Charleston wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $243,300 median home), income ($61,503 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and North Charleston, SC are about 1,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.