Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Austin leads 16 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $28,022 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than North Charleston
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($243,300 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $28,022/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$28,022
$86,556 vs $58,534/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
42% lower
466.9 vs 810.5 per 100k
Austin
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.3°F
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$218k less
$243,300 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Austin is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 16 of 23 categories. Austin wins 16 and North Charleston wins 7. 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 Austin to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($86,556 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and North Charleston, SC are about 1,055 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.