Charleston, SC vs Wilmington, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlestonCharleston, SC | WilmingtonWilmington, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 32 traffic deaths per 100,000 people, Charleston, SC records a rate four times higher than Wilmington, NC’s 8 per 100,000, a gap reflected in their 2025 traffic safety grades of D- versus A+. The average commute in Charleston runs 23.8 minutes, about 5 minutes longer than Wilmington’s 18.5 minutes, placing Charleston in the 53rd percentile and Wilmington in the 17th for commute length. Median household income in Charleston reaches $90,038, which is 41% higher than Wilmington’s $63,900, with the former in the 70th percentile and the latter in the 36th.
Property crime per 100,000 people in Wilmington stands at 2,901, an 80% higher figure than Charleston’s 1,610, putting Wilmington in the 91st percentile versus Charleston’s 63rd. The state and local tax burden is 9.9% in Wilmington, 1.0 percentage points higher than Charleston’s 8.9%, with percentiles of 48 and 20 respectively. Population density also diverges: Wilmington packs 2,307 people per square mile, 75% higher than Charleston’s 1,318, ranking the former in the 66th percentile and the latter in the 39th. Air quality index values are closer, with Charleston at 43 and Wilmington at 39, a 10% difference that places Charleston in the 52nd percentile and Wilmington in the 30th.
2023 Census figures show median rent in Charleston at $1,632 versus $1,311 in Wilmington, a 24% gap, while per-capita income is $58,583 in Charleston against $46,062 in Wilmington, 27% higher. The poverty rate in Wilmington is 16.3%, 4.3 points above Charleston’s 12.0%. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 404 in Wilmington versus 280 in Charleston, a 44% difference, though both cities report falling five-year trends.
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 | Wilmington, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15178th pctl | 11761st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Charleston, SC 151; Wilmington, NC 117; Charleston is 29% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $469,10080th pctl | $350,30064th pctl | Median home value: Charleston, SC $469,100; Wilmington, NC $350,300; Charleston is 34% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,63276th pctl | $1,31158th pctl | Median rent: Charleston, SC $1,632; Wilmington, NC $1,311; Charleston is 24% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $90,03870th pctl | $63,90036th pctl | Median household income: Charleston, SC $90,038; Wilmington, NC $63,900; Charleston is 41% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $91,13881st pctl | $68,05765th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charleston, SC $91,138; Wilmington, NC $68,057; Charleston is 34% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $133,97381st pctl | $100,04465th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charleston, SC $133,973; Wilmington, NC $100,044; Charleston is 34% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Wilmington needs about
$58,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 151 vs 117). 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 | Wilmington, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.6%67th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $58,58386th pctl | $46,06271st pctl | Per-capita income: Charleston, SC $58,583; Wilmington, NC $46,062; Charleston is 27% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.0%52nd pctl | 16.3%71st pctl | Poverty rate: Charleston, SC 12.0%; Wilmington, NC 16.3%; Wilmington is 4.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 23.8 min53rd pctl | 18.5 min17th pctl | Average commute: Charleston, SC 23.8 min; Wilmington, NC 18.5 min; Charleston is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.6%78th pctl | 17.7%78th pctl | About the same |
| 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 | Wilmington, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 28059th pctl | 40478th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 280; Wilmington, NC 404; Wilmington is 44% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,61063rd pctl | 2,90191st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charleston, SC 1,610; Wilmington, NC 2,901; Wilmington is 80% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Charleston, SC D-; Wilmington, NC A+; Wilmington is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Wilmington, 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 | Wilmington, 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 | Wilmington, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 637 mi79th pctl | 497 mi73rd pctl | Nearest large city: Charleston, SC 637 mi; Wilmington, NC 497 mi; Charleston is 28% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Fair | Target proximity: Charleston, SC C; Wilmington, NC B-; Wilmington is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 696 mi90th pctl | 609 mi82nd pctl | Distance to international border: Charleston, SC 696 mi; Wilmington, NC 609 mi; Charleston is 14% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 3 mi4th pctl | 1 mi2nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Charleston, SC 3 mi; Wilmington, NC 1 mi; Charleston is 2.4 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Wilmington, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,01493rd pctl | 118,57891st pctl | Population: Charleston, SC 152,014; Wilmington, NC 118,578; Charleston is 28% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,31839th pctl | 2,30766th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charleston, SC 1,318; Wilmington, NC 2,307; Wilmington is 75% higher. |
| Median age | 36.134th pctl | 37.546th pctl | Median age: Charleston, SC 36.1; Wilmington, NC 37.5; Wilmington is 1.4 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7%86th pctl | 45.8%74th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Charleston, SC 57.7%; Wilmington, NC 45.8%; Charleston is 11.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.219th pctl | 2.18th pctl | Average household size: Charleston, SC 2.2; Wilmington, NC 2.1; Charleston is 7% larger. |
More about Charleston's residents · Wilmington'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 | WilmingtonWilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+13 | R+7 |
| 2024 presidential | D +23.0 pts | R +14.0 pts |
Full politics data: Charleston · Wilmington
Moving between Charleston and Wilmington
- Median rent: $1,632 in Charleston, $1,311 in Wilmington
- Median home value: $469,100 in Charleston, $350,300 in Wilmington
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 151 in Charleston, 117 in Wilmington
- Median household income: $90,038 in Charleston, $63,900 in Wilmington
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $133,973 in Charleston, $100,044 in Wilmington
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Charleston, 3.4% in Wilmington
- Average commute: 23.8 min in Charleston, 18.5 min in Wilmington
- Violent crime per 100k: 280 in Charleston, 404 in Wilmington
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- 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.
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