Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Madison leads 15 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
8
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
68% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $16,361 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($243,300 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $16,361/yr
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$16,361
$74,895 vs $58,534/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
68% lower
256.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$83k less
$243,300 vs $326,600
North Charleston
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 15 of 23 categories. Madison 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 Madison to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($74,895 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and North Charleston, SC are about 867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.