Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($243,300 vs $283,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $46,329/yr
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
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $46,329 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than North Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.1%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$40k less
$243,300 vs $283,600
North Charleston
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 87.5°F
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$46,329
$104,863 vs $58,534/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
93% lower
59.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 16 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 7 and O'Fallon wins 16. 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 North Charleston to O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $283,600 median home), income ($58,534 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and O'Fallon, MO are about 721 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.