Living in North Charleston, SC
Mid-size city in South Carolina
North Charleston is a mid-size city in South Carolina, home to about 117,000 people, with 565,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is North Charleston a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low taxes: about $1,296 state income tax per resident, 0.52% property tax
- Easy flying: CHS is 2 mi away
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $308k and rents for $2,220 a month
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 565,000 people live within 31 mi
- Fewer graduates: 28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Higher crime: violent crime is 2.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how North Charleston ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in North Charleston: common questions
What is the cost of living in North Charleston?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $308k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,220 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 101, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in North Charleston?
South Carolina collects about $1,296 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.52% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is North Charleston safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in North Charleston?
North Charleston has mild winters: winter days average around 62°F and summer days around 90°F.
Does North Charleston get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from hurricanes and earthquakes: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.93 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to North Charleston?
The nearest major airport is CHS, about 2 mi away.
How North Charleston scores
Each bar compares North Charleston with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is North Charleston right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.