Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
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.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,288)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails North Charleston by $7,418/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
44% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $38k less ($243,300 vs $281,500)
Households earn $7,418 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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 New Orleans
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Income
$7,418
$58,534 vs $51,116/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
44% lower
810.5 vs 1444.1 per 100k
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$38k less
$243,300 vs $281,500
North Charleston
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 53.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 and North Charleston wins 11. 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 Orleans to North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($51,116 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and North Charleston, SC are about 614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.