Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 North Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($243,300 vs $418,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $22,216/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
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,216 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than North Charleston
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$175k less
$243,300 vs $418,300
North Charleston
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$22,216
$80,750 vs $58,534/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
21% lower
641.7 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 13 and Rialto wins 10. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $418,300 median home), income ($58,534 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Rialto, CA are about 2,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.