Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($243,300 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,525)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $15,092/yr
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vancouver, WA
Pros
28% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $15,092 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$160k less
$243,300 vs $403,400
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$15,092
$73,626 vs $58,534/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
28% lower
582.3 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 10 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $403,400 median home), income ($58,534 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Vancouver, WA are about 2,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.