Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($181,600 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
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
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$62k less
$181,600 vs $243,300
North Charleston
Violent Crime
1% lower
810.5 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 15 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 15 and North Charleston wins 8. 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 Lubbock to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,734 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and North Charleston, SC are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.