Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ 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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
65% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $22,685 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than North Charleston
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $749k less ($243,300 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($1,288 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.3%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $22,685/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
Glendale
Median Income
$22,685
$81,219 vs $58,534/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
65% lower
287.2 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$749k less
$243,300 vs $992,000
North Charleston
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $243,300 median home), income ($81,219 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and North Charleston, SC are about 2,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.