CityCompare

North Charleston SC vs Port St. Lucie FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

North Charleston, SC

South Carolina · Population: 117,460

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

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

  • Median HH Income$78,137
  • Median Home Price$327,700
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+26.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
North Charleston
117,460
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Port St. Lucie +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
North Charleston
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Median Age
North Charleston
34.3
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
43.7
Foreign Born
North Charleston
12.2%
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
Port St. Lucie +
White
North Charleston
39.1%
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Black
North Charleston
42.2%
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
Asian
North Charleston
3.5%
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
Hispanic
North Charleston
12.8%
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Spanish at Home
North Charleston
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
North Charleston
$62,789
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Income
North Charleston
$35,740
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
North Charleston
$54,550
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
Port St. Lucie +
Unemployment Rate
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
Poverty Rate
North Charleston
15.5%
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Bachelor's Degree+
North Charleston
28.0%
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
26.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
North Charleston
$313,219
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Homeownership Rate
North Charleston
48.5%
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
398
Port St. Lucie
324
Port St. Lucie +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
1999
Port St. Lucie
1453
Port St. Lucie +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
35.2%
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
13.2%
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Port St. Lucie +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
North Charleston
17.5%
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
Port St. Lucie +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
15.3%
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
19.8%
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
14.3%
Port St. Lucie
12.9%
Port St. Lucie +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
North Charleston
26.8 min
North Charleston +
Port St. Lucie
32.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Port St. Lucie leads in median household income at $78,137, while north Charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,219. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in North Charleston. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

Compare More Cities

New York, NY vs North Charleston, SCLos Angeles, CA vs North Charleston, SCChicago, IL vs North Charleston, SCHouston, TX vs North Charleston, SCNorth Charleston, SC vs Phoenix, AZNorth Charleston, SC vs Philadelphia, PA

About North Charleston & Port St. Lucie

View North Charleston SC Profile →View Port St. Lucie FL Profile →