North Charleston SC vs Schenectady NY — 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%

Schenectady, NY

New York · Population: 28,542

Median HH Income$100,485
Median Home Price$321,835
Unemployment2.3%
Bachelor's+58.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

North Charleston

117,460

North Charleston +

Schenectady

28,542

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

North Charleston

N/A

Schenectady

N/A

Median Age

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

Schenectady

42.3

Foreign Born

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

6.8%

White

North Charleston

39.1%

Schenectady

86.7%

Schenectady +

Black

North Charleston

42.2%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

3.1%

Asian

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

3.0%

Hispanic

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

4.7%

Spanish at Home

North Charleston

N/A

Schenectady

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	Better
Population	117,460	28,542	North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	42.3	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	12.2%	6.8%	North Charleston +
White	39.1%	86.7%	Schenectady +
Black	42.2%	3.1%	North Charleston +
Asian	3.5%	3.0%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	12.8%	4.7%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

North Charleston

$62,789

Schenectady

$100,485

Schenectady +

Per Capita Income

North Charleston

$35,740

Schenectady

$62,931

Schenectady +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

North Charleston

$54,550

Schenectady

$77,425

Schenectady +

Unemployment Rate

North Charleston

4.3%

Schenectady

2.3%

Schenectady +

Poverty Rate

North Charleston

15.5%

Schenectady

10.3%

Schenectady +

Bachelor's Degree+

North Charleston

28.0%

Schenectady

58.8%

Schenectady +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	Better
Median HH Income	$62,789	$100,485	Schenectady +
Per Capita Income	$35,740	$62,931	Schenectady +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$54,550	$77,425	Schenectady +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	2.3%	Schenectady +
Poverty Rate	15.5%	10.3%	Schenectady +
Bachelor's Degree+	28.0%	58.8%	Schenectady +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

North Charleston

$313,219

North Charleston +

Schenectady

$321,835

Homeownership Rate

North Charleston

48.5%

Schenectady

57.5%

Schenectady +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$313,219	$321,835	North Charleston +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	57.5%	Schenectady +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

398

North Charleston +

Schenectady

434

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

1999

Schenectady

1736

Schenectady +

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

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

35.2%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

38.6%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

13.2%

Schenectady

12.3%

Schenectady +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

North Charleston

17.5%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

19.2%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

15.3%

Schenectady

9.7%

Schenectady +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

19.8%

Schenectady

15.2%

Schenectady +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

14.3%

North Charleston +

Schenectady

16.9%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	38.6%	North Charleston +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.2%	12.3%	Schenectady +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.5%	19.2%	North Charleston +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	9.7%	Schenectady +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	19.8%	15.2%	Schenectady +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.3%	16.9%	North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Schenectady

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Schenectady

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	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.)

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

Schenectady

8.1 µg/m³

Schenectady +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

North Charleston

75.0%

Schenectady

75.0%

Tie

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

North Charleston

26.8 min

Schenectady

26.2 min

Schenectady +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Schenectady, NY	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.8 min	26.2 min	Schenectady +

Which City is Right for You?

Schenectady leads in median household income at $100,485, 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 Schenectady. Schenectady has a lower unemployment rate at 2.3%, and Schenectady has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

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