Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755
Springfield
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
31% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $15,084 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 43°F
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 9% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($146,400 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $410/mo less ($878 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails North Charleston by $15,084/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$15,084
$58,534 vs $43,450/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
31% lower
810.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$97k less
$146,400 vs $243,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 12 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($58,534 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Springfield, MO are about 803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.