Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston leads 15 of 21 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
56% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $25,357 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than North Charleston
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($243,300 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,517)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $25,357/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
Charleston
Median Income
$25,357
$83,891 vs $58,534/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
56% lower
357.6 vs 810.5 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
North Charleston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$196k less
$243,300 vs $438,900
North Charleston
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 21 categories. Charleston wins 15 and North Charleston wins 6. 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 Charleston to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($83,891 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and North Charleston, SC are about 8 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.