Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($243,300 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,530)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $27,342/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
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $27,342 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than North Charleston
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$280k less
$243,300 vs $523,100
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$27,342
$85,876 vs $58,534/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
11% lower
720.1 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 12 and Portland 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 North Charleston to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $523,100 median home), income ($58,534 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Portland, OR are about 2,407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.