Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($243,300 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $874/mo less ($1,288 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $53,183/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
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,183 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than North Charleston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than North Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$374k less
$243,300 vs $617,300
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$53,183
$111,717 vs $58,534/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
63% lower
301.4 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $617,300 median home), income ($58,534 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Tracy, CA are about 2,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.