North Charleston SC vs Quincy MA — 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%

Quincy, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 101,361

  • Median HH Income$95,711
  • Median Home Price$679,883
  • Unemployment7.1%
  • Bachelor's+48.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
North Charleston
117,460
North Charleston +
Quincy
101,361
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
North Charleston
N/A
Quincy
N/A
Median Age
North Charleston
34.3
North Charleston +
Quincy
39.0
Foreign Born
North Charleston
12.2%
Quincy
32.7%
Quincy +
White
North Charleston
39.1%
Quincy
55.6%
Quincy +
Black
North Charleston
42.2%
North Charleston +
Quincy
6.5%
Asian
North Charleston
3.5%
Quincy
29.2%
Quincy +
Hispanic
North Charleston
12.8%
North Charleston +
Quincy
5.8%
Spanish at Home
North Charleston
N/A
Quincy
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
North Charleston
$62,789
Quincy
$95,711
Quincy +
Per Capita Income
North Charleston
$35,740
Quincy
$53,273
Quincy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
North Charleston
$54,550
Quincy
$85,405
Quincy +
Unemployment Rate
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Quincy
7.1%
Poverty Rate
North Charleston
15.5%
Quincy
11.4%
Quincy +
Bachelor's Degree+
North Charleston
28.0%
Quincy
48.6%
Quincy +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
North Charleston
$313,219
North Charleston +
Quincy
$679,883
Homeownership Rate
North Charleston
48.5%
North Charleston +
Quincy
45.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
398
Quincy
326
Quincy +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
1999
Quincy
1086
Quincy +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
35.2%
Quincy
22.9%
Quincy +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
13.2%
Quincy
10.1%
Quincy +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
North Charleston
17.5%
Quincy
15.5%
Quincy +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
15.3%
Quincy
4.9%
Quincy +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
19.8%
Quincy
15.6%
Quincy +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
14.3%
Quincy
11.0%
Quincy +

Climate

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

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
North Charleston
26.8 min
North Charleston +
Quincy
37.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Quincy leads in median household income at $95,711, while north Charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,219. On public safety, Quincy is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in North Charleston. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Quincy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Quincy scores better with a lower obesity rate of 22.9%.

Compare More Cities

About North Charleston & Quincy