Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 North Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
11% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $28k less ($215,500 vs $243,300)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Income
$997
$58,534 vs $57,537/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
11% lower
810.5 vs 908.7 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$28k less
$215,500 vs $243,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 14 and Philadelphia wins 9. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $215,500 median home), income ($58,534 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Philadelphia, PA are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.