Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Households earn $2,950 more per year on average
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 9% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($128,800 vs $243,300)
57% less violent crime than North Charleston
Rent averages $339/mo less ($949 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails North Charleston by $2,950/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$2,950
$58,534 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
57% lower
350.3 vs 810.5 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$115k less
$128,800 vs $243,300
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Charleston leads 12 of 23 categories. North Charleston wins 12 and Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $128,800 median home), income ($58,534 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.