Best Life Index › States › South Carolina › Cities › North Charleston

South Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in North Charleston?

What it costs to live in North Charleston, and how it compares with other South Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

30

33rd best value in South Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other South Carolina cities.

Overall livability

31

33rd overall in South Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

North Charleston is home to about 114,542 people. A typical home runs $203,100 and a household earns around $52,300, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among South Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 33rd for value and 33rd overall.

North Charleston at a glance

Median home price

$203,100

29th in SC of 39

Median rent

$1,160/mo

Median household income

$52,300

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

4.1%

16th in SC of 39

School rating

3/10

27th in SC of 39

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in SC of 39

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top South Carolina cities ranked  ยท  South Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within South Carolina only. Updated 2026.