Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ 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 4.9 pts lower (4.3%)
34% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $12,567 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($168,900 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $343/mo less ($945 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails North Charleston by $12,567/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$12,567
$58,534 vs $45,967/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
34% lower
810.5 vs 1228.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$74k less
$168,900 vs $243,300
Shreveport
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 11 and Shreveport wins 12. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $168,900 median home), income ($58,534 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Shreveport, LA are about 798 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.