Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $35,654 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($243,300 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $35,654/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
Buckeye
Median Income
$35,654
$94,188 vs $58,534/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
79% lower
166.8 vs 810.5 per 100k
Buckeye
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 91.3°F
North Charleston
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$98k less
$243,300 vs $341,700
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($94,188 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and North Charleston, SC are about 1,877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.