New Rochelle 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)

New Rochelle, NY

New York · Population: 48,198

  • Median HH Income$48,535
  • Median Home Price$920,484
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.8%

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
New Rochelle
48,198
North Charleston
117,460
North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Rochelle
N/A
North Charleston
N/A
Median Age
New Rochelle
40.7
North Charleston
34.3
North Charleston +
Foreign Born
New Rochelle
4.6%
North Charleston
12.2%
North Charleston +
White
New Rochelle
66.1%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
39.1%
Black
New Rochelle
17.8%
North Charleston
42.2%
North Charleston +
Asian
New Rochelle
2.3%
North Charleston
3.5%
North Charleston +
Hispanic
New Rochelle
8.0%
North Charleston
12.8%
North Charleston +
Spanish at Home
New Rochelle
N/A
North Charleston
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Rochelle
$48,535
North Charleston
$62,789
North Charleston +
Per Capita Income
New Rochelle
$30,033
North Charleston
$35,740
North Charleston +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Rochelle
$77,425
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
$54,550
Unemployment Rate
New Rochelle
9.7%
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Poverty Rate
New Rochelle
23.7%
North Charleston
15.5%
North Charleston +
Bachelor's Degree+
New Rochelle
22.8%
North Charleston
28.0%
North Charleston +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Rochelle
$920,484
North Charleston
$313,219
North Charleston +
Homeownership Rate
New Rochelle
57.5%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
48.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
434
North Charleston
398
North Charleston +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
1736
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
1999

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
26.6%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
35.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
10.6%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
13.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Rochelle
13.8%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
17.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.5%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
15.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
14.9%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
19.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.3%
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
14.3%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
North Charleston
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
North Charleston
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
8.1 µg/m³
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
8.6 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New Rochelle
75.0%
North Charleston
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Rochelle
20.0 min
New Rochelle +
North Charleston
26.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, 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 New Rochelle. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and New Rochelle has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Rochelle scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About New Rochelle & North Charleston