Smart Movers Club

    Moving to North Charleston, SC

    Is North Charleston a good place to live?

    Watch North Charleston

    North Charleston ranks #14 of 22 South Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (40/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $267,700
    +10.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,364
    per month
    Household income
    $62,789
    median
    Unemployment
    4.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in North Charleston

    The median home value in North Charleston is $267,700 and median rent is $1,364 a month, against a median household income of $62,789. Homes cost about 4.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    North Charleston crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across South Carolina the 2025 rate was 389 violent and 1,715 property crimes per 100,000 people — #17 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to North Charleston, SC

    North Charleston has about 117,460 residents, 4.3% unemployment and 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare North Charleston with

    North Charleston vs CharlestonNorth Charleston vs ColumbiaNorth Charleston vs Mount PleasantNorth Charleston vs Rock HillNorth Charleston vs GreenvilleNorth Charleston vs SummervilleNorth Charleston vs Goose CreekNorth Charleston vs Sumter

    More: Where to move in South Carolina · Best counties in South Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report