Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 15 of 22 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 5% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than North Charleston
Homes cost $57k less ($186,500 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$778
$59,312 vs $58,534/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
48% lower
423.6 vs 810.5 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$57k less
$186,500 vs $243,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 15 of 22 categories. North Charleston wins 7 and Yuma wins 15. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($58,534 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and Yuma, AZ are about 1,994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.