Charleston, SC vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlestonCharleston, SC | CharlotteCharlotte, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
637 mi separates Charleston, SC from its nearest large city, while Charlotte, NC sits just 1 mi away, a gap of 636 mi that places Charleston in the 79th percentile and Charlotte in the 2nd percentile for this metric. The two cities also diverge sharply on coastal access: Charleston is 3 mi from the coastline, whereas Charlotte is 152 mi inland, putting Charlotte 148 mi farther from the shore. Population density differs by a factor of 2.2, with Charlotte at 2,840 people per square mile versus Charleston’s 1,318, placing Charlotte in the 75th percentile and Charleston in the 39th.
Crime figures from 2025 show a wide split in property crime, with Charlotte reporting 3,419 incidents per 100,000 people—2.1× the rate in Charleston, where the figure is 1,610. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 559 in Charlotte versus 280 in Charleston, a 100% higher rate that puts Charlotte in the 89th percentile and Charleston in the 59th. Air quality also differs: the AQI in Charlotte is 51, which is 19% higher than Charleston’s 43, ranking Charlotte in the 82nd percentile and Charleston in the 52nd. Average household size is 2.4 in Charlotte and 2.2 in Charleston, a 10% larger figure for Charlotte.
2023 Census figures show median home values at $469,100 in Charleston and $351,500 in Charlotte, a 33% difference, while median household income is $90,038 versus $78,438, with Charleston 15% higher. The unemployment rates are close at 3.3% and 3.7%, and both cities carry an F grade for national disaster risk.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15178th pctl | 12766th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Charleston, SC 151; Charlotte, NC 127; Charleston is 19% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $469,10080th pctl | $351,50065th pctl | Median home value: Charleston, SC $469,100; Charlotte, NC $351,500; Charleston is 33% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,63276th pctl | $1,50471st pctl | Median rent: Charleston, SC $1,632; Charlotte, NC $1,504; Charleston is 9% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $90,03870th pctl | $78,43857th pctl | Median household income: Charleston, SC $90,038; Charlotte, NC $78,438; Charleston is 15% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $91,13881st pctl | $68,29065th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charleston, SC $91,138; Charlotte, NC $68,290; Charleston is 33% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $133,97381st pctl | $100,38765th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charleston, SC $133,973; Charlotte, NC $100,387; Charleston is 33% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Charleston, SC C+; Charlotte, NC B+; Charlotte is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Charlotte needs about
$63,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 151 vs 127). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.7%52nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.6%67th pctl | +1.0%46th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Charleston, SC +1.6%; Charlotte, NC +1.0%; Charleston is 0.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $58,58386th pctl | $49,99178th pctl | Per-capita income: Charleston, SC $58,583; Charlotte, NC $49,991; Charleston is 17% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.0%52nd pctl | 11.7%51st pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 23.8 min53rd pctl | 25 min60th pctl | Average commute: Charleston, SC 23.8 min; Charlotte, NC 25 min; Charlotte is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.6%78th pctl | 25.5%92nd pctl | Work from home: Charleston, SC 17.6%; Charlotte, NC 25.5%; Charlotte is 7.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 28059th pctl | 55989th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 280; Charlotte, NC 559; Charlotte is 100% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,61063rd pctl | 3,41995th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 1,610; Charlotte, NC 3,419; Charlotte is 2.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Charleston, SC C+; Charlotte, NC D-; Charleston is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Charleston, SC D-; Charlotte, NC B-; Charlotte is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Charleston, SC; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 637 mi79th pctl | 1 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Charleston, SC 637 mi; Charlotte, NC 1 mi; Charleston is 636 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 696 mi90th pctl | 532 mi73rd pctl | Distance to international border: Charleston, SC 696 mi; Charlotte, NC 532 mi; Charleston is 31% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 3 mi4th pctl | 152 mi37th pctl | Distance to coastline: Charleston, SC 3 mi; Charlotte, NC 152 mi; Charlotte is 148 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Charlotte, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,01493rd pctl | 886,28399th pctl | Population: Charleston, SC 152,014; Charlotte, NC 886,283; Charlotte is 5.8 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,31839th pctl | 2,84075th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charleston, SC 1,318; Charlotte, NC 2,840; Charlotte is 2.2 times higher. |
| Median age | 36.134th pctl | 34.421st pctl | Median age: Charleston, SC 36.1; Charlotte, NC 34.4; Charleston is 1.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7%86th pctl | 47.4%76th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Charleston, SC 57.7%; Charlotte, NC 47.4%; Charleston is 10.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.219th pctl | 2.447th pctl | Average household size: Charleston, SC 2.2; Charlotte, NC 2.4; Charlotte is 10% larger. |
More about Charleston's residents · Charlotte's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | CharlestonCharleston, SC | CharlotteCharlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+13 | D+24 |
| 2024 presidential | D +23.0 pts | D +46.0 pts |
Full politics data: Charleston · Charlotte
Moving between Charleston and Charlotte
- Median rent: $1,632 in Charleston, $1,504 in Charlotte
- Median home value: $469,100 in Charleston, $351,500 in Charlotte
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 151 in Charleston, 127 in Charlotte
- Median household income: $90,038 in Charleston, $78,438 in Charlotte
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $133,973 in Charleston, $100,387 in Charlotte
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Charleston, 3.7% in Charlotte
- Average commute: 23.8 min in Charleston, 25 min in Charlotte
- Violent crime per 100k: 280 in Charleston, 559 in Charlotte
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More places like Charleston and Charlotte
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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