Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $12,794 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($243,300 vs $351,400)
28% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,392)
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $12,794/yr
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$12,794
$71,328 vs $58,534/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
28% lower
810.5 vs 1124.1 per 100k
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$108k less
$243,300 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 53.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 10 and North Charleston wins 12. 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 Nashville-Davidson to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $243,300 median home), income ($71,328 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and North Charleston, SC are about 443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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