Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ 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 3.9 pts lower (4.3%)
22% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $13,129 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 8% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($98,800 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($854 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails North Charleston by $13,129/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$13,129
$58,534 vs $45,405/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
22% lower
810.5 vs 1041.1 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$145k less
$98,800 vs $243,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 130⚠ 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 | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. North Charleston wins 11 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $98,800 median home), income ($58,534 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Toledo, OH are about 634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.