Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
60% less violent crime than North Charleston
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $21,709 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($243,300 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $565/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $21,709/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
Boulder
Median Income
$21,709
$80,243 vs $58,534/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
60% lower
322.3 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$676k less
$243,300 vs $919,700
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 11 and North Charleston wins 12. 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 Boulder to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($80,243 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and North Charleston, SC are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.