Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
34% less violent crime than North Charleston
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.3%)
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $114/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,402)
Households earn $4,229 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Violent Crime
34% lower
534.8 vs 810.5 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.6 on the COL index
North Charleston
Median Income
$4,229
$58,534 vs $54,305/yr
North Charleston
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 11 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 New Haven to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($54,305 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and North Charleston, SC are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.