Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
10
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $4,467 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $79k less ($243,300 vs $321,800)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Median income trails Fresno by $4,467/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$4,467
$63,001 vs $58,534/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
9% lower
735.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 91.3°F
North Charleston
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$79k less
$243,300 vs $321,800
North Charleston
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 13 and North Charleston wins 10. 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 Fresno to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $243,300 median home), income ($63,001 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and North Charleston, SC are about 2,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.