North Charleston SC vs Shreveport LA — 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%

Shreveport, LA

Louisiana · Population: 183,483

  • Median HH Income$48,465
  • Median Home Price$146,463
  • Unemployment8.9%
  • Bachelor's+27.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
North Charleston
117,460
Shreveport
183,483
Shreveport +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
North Charleston
N/A
Shreveport
N/A
Median Age
North Charleston
34.3
North Charleston +
Shreveport
37.5
Foreign Born
North Charleston
12.2%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
2.6%
White
North Charleston
39.1%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
36.5%
Black
North Charleston
42.2%
Shreveport
56.1%
Shreveport +
Asian
North Charleston
3.5%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
1.5%
Hispanic
North Charleston
12.8%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
3.9%
Spanish at Home
North Charleston
N/A
Shreveport
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
North Charleston
$62,789
North Charleston +
Shreveport
$48,465
Per Capita Income
North Charleston
$35,740
North Charleston +
Shreveport
$33,788
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
North Charleston
$54,550
Shreveport
$55,297
Shreveport +
Unemployment Rate
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
8.9%
Poverty Rate
North Charleston
15.5%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
23.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
North Charleston
28.0%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
27.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
North Charleston
$313,219
Shreveport
$146,463
Shreveport +
Homeownership Rate
North Charleston
48.5%
Shreveport
53.8%
Shreveport +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
398
North Charleston +
Shreveport
643
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
1999
North Charleston +
Shreveport
2824

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
35.2%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
43.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
13.2%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
17.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
North Charleston
17.5%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
20.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
15.3%
Shreveport
9.6%
Shreveport +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
19.8%
Shreveport
14.5%
Shreveport +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
14.3%
North Charleston +
Shreveport
19.1%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Shreveport
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Shreveport
52.7 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
North Charleston
26.8 min
Shreveport
20.5 min
Shreveport +

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, while shreveport offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $146,463. On public safety, North Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Shreveport. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and North Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

Compare More Cities

About North Charleston & Shreveport