Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($243,300 vs $314,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,376)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $29,224/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
Suffolk, VA
Pros
54% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $29,224 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$71k less
$243,300 vs $314,400
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$29,224
$87,758 vs $58,534/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
54% lower
371.0 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 10 and Suffolk wins 13. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $314,400 median home), income ($58,534 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Suffolk, VA are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.