Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pasadena
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $738k less ($243,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $812/mo less ($1,288 vs $2,100)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $39,284/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
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,284 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than North Charleston
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than North Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$738k less
$243,300 vs $981,600
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$39,284
$97,818 vs $58,534/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
41% lower
480.4 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 9 and Pasadena wins 14. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($58,534 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Pasadena, CA are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.