Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Vallejo, 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
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($243,300 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,894)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $27,578/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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,578 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than North Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$272k less
$243,300 vs $515,500
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$27,578
$86,112 vs $58,534/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
9% lower
739.8 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 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 | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 12 and Vallejo 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($58,534 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Vallejo, CA are about 2,380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.