Mount Vernon NY vs North Charleston SC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

Median HH Income$77,171
Median Home Price$579,771
Unemployment6.9%
Bachelor's+35.0%

North Charleston, SC

South Carolina · Population: 117,460

Median HH Income$62,789
Median Home Price$313,219
Unemployment4.3%
Bachelor's+28.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Mount Vernon

72,528

North Charleston

117,460

North Charleston +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Mount Vernon

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Median Age

Mount Vernon

41.9

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

Foreign Born

Mount Vernon

31.9%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

12.2%

White

Mount Vernon

16.2%

North Charleston

39.1%

North Charleston +

Black

Mount Vernon

60.4%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

42.2%

Asian

Mount Vernon

2.2%

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Hispanic

Mount Vernon

18.3%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

12.8%

Spanish at Home

Mount Vernon

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Population	72,528	117,460	North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	41.9	34.3	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	31.9%	12.2%	Mount Vernon +
White	16.2%	39.1%	North Charleston +
Black	60.4%	42.2%	Mount Vernon +
Asian	2.2%	3.5%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	18.3%	12.8%	Mount Vernon +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Mount Vernon

$77,171

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

$62,789

Per Capita Income

Mount Vernon

$42,158

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

$35,740

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Mount Vernon

$77,425

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

$54,550

Unemployment Rate

Mount Vernon

6.9%

North Charleston

4.3%

North Charleston +

Poverty Rate

Mount Vernon

13.6%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

15.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Mount Vernon

35.0%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

28.0%

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Median HH Income	$77,171	$62,789	Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Income	$42,158	$35,740	Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$77,425	$54,550	Mount Vernon +
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	4.3%	North Charleston +
Poverty Rate	13.6%	15.5%	Mount Vernon +
Bachelor's Degree+	35.0%	28.0%	Mount Vernon +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Mount Vernon

$579,771

North Charleston

$313,219

North Charleston +

Homeownership Rate

Mount Vernon

42.1%

North Charleston

48.5%

North Charleston +

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$579,771	$313,219	North Charleston +
Homeownership Rate	42.1%	48.5%	North Charleston +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Mount Vernon

434

North Charleston

398

North Charleston +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Mount Vernon

1736

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

1999

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	434	398	North Charleston +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1736	1999	Mount Vernon +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Mount Vernon

33.2%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

35.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Mount Vernon

13.6%

North Charleston

13.2%

North Charleston +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Mount Vernon

16.3%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

17.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Mount Vernon

9.3%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

15.3%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Mount Vernon

12.8%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

19.8%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Mount Vernon

12.8%

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

14.3%

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	33.2%	35.2%	Mount Vernon +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.6%	13.2%	North Charleston +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.3%	17.5%	Mount Vernon +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.3%	15.3%	Mount Vernon +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	12.8%	19.8%	Mount Vernon +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.8%	14.3%	Mount Vernon +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Mount Vernon

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Mount Vernon

N/A

North Charleston

N/A

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Mount Vernon

8.1 µg/m³

Mount Vernon +

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Mount Vernon

75.0%

North Charleston

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.1 µg/m³	8.6 µg/m³	Mount Vernon +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Mount Vernon

38.6 min

North Charleston

26.8 min

North Charleston +

Metric	Mount Vernon, NY	North Charleston, SC	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	38.6 min	26.8 min	North Charleston +

Which City is Right for You?

Mount Vernon leads in median household income at $77,171, while north Charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,219. On public safety, North Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Mount Vernon. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Mount Vernon has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mount Vernon scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

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About Mount Vernon & North Charleston

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