Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
North Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
79% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $37,036 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 60°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than North Charleston
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($243,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($1,288 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $37,036/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
Boca Raton
Median Income
$37,036
$95,570 vs $58,534/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
79% lower
171.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$354k less
$243,300 vs $597,100
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 53.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and North Charleston wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and North Charleston, SC are about 452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.