Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Richmond, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $382k less ($243,300 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $565/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,853)
12% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.3%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $28,084/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
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,084 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than North Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Violent Crime
12% lower
810.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$382k less
$243,300 vs $624,800
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$28,084
$86,618 vs $58,534/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 13 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($58,534 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Richmond, CA are about 2,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.