Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 North Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($202,900 vs $243,300)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
North Charleston, SC
Pros
50% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 44°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$40k less
$202,900 vs $243,300
North Charleston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Violent Crime
50% lower
810.5 vs 1606.2 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 8 and North Charleston wins 15. 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 Baltimore to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,349 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and North Charleston, SC are about 481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.