Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
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
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($243,300 vs $305,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
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
Median income trails Worcester by $4,477/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than North Charleston
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Households earn $4,477 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than North Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$62k less
$243,300 vs $305,600
North Charleston
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,477
$63,011 vs $58,534/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. North Charleston wins 10 and Worcester wins 10. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,534 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Worcester, MA are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.