Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
24% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $16,176 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($243,300 vs $316,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $16,176/yr
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$16,176
$74,710 vs $58,534/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
24% lower
619.2 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$73k less
$243,300 vs $316,600
North Charleston
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Durham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 22 categories. Durham wins 15 and North Charleston wins 7. 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 Durham to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and North Charleston, SC are about 222 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.