North Charleston SC vs Springfield IL — 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%

Springfield, IL

Illinois · Population: 113,714

Median HH Income$65,537
Median Home Price$168,312
Unemployment6.7%
Bachelor's+35.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

North Charleston

117,460

North Charleston +

Springfield

113,714

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

North Charleston

N/A

Springfield

N/A

Median Age

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

Springfield

40.7

Foreign Born

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

Springfield

4.5%

White

North Charleston

39.1%

Springfield

70.5%

Springfield +

Black

North Charleston

42.2%

North Charleston +

Springfield

19.8%

Asian

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Springfield

2.9%

Hispanic

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

Springfield

3.4%

Spanish at Home

North Charleston

N/A

Springfield

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Population	117,460	113,714	North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	40.7	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	12.2%	4.5%	North Charleston +
White	39.1%	70.5%	Springfield +
Black	42.2%	19.8%	North Charleston +
Asian	3.5%	2.9%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	12.8%	3.4%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

North Charleston

$62,789

Springfield

$65,537

Springfield +

Per Capita Income

North Charleston

$35,740

Springfield

$41,110

Springfield +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

North Charleston

$54,550

Springfield

$68,110

Springfield +

Unemployment Rate

North Charleston

4.3%

North Charleston +

Springfield

6.7%

Poverty Rate

North Charleston

15.5%

North Charleston +

Springfield

16.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

North Charleston

28.0%

Springfield

35.1%

Springfield +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Median HH Income	$62,789	$65,537	Springfield +
Per Capita Income	$35,740	$41,110	Springfield +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$54,550	$68,110	Springfield +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	6.7%	North Charleston +
Poverty Rate	15.5%	16.5%	North Charleston +
Bachelor's Degree+	28.0%	35.1%	Springfield +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

North Charleston

$313,219

Springfield

$168,312

Springfield +

Homeownership Rate

North Charleston

48.5%

Springfield

63.4%

Springfield +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$313,219	$168,312	Springfield +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	63.4%	Springfield +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

398

Springfield

344

Springfield +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

1999

Springfield

1842

Springfield +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	344	Springfield +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	1842	Springfield +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

35.2%

North Charleston +

Springfield

41.1%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

13.2%

Springfield

12.9%

Springfield +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

North Charleston

17.5%

Springfield

17.3%

Springfield +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

15.3%

Springfield

8.2%

Springfield +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

19.8%

Springfield

16.7%

Springfield +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

14.3%

North Charleston +

Springfield

14.7%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	41.1%	North Charleston +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.2%	12.9%	Springfield +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.5%	17.3%	Springfield +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	8.2%	Springfield +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	19.8%	16.7%	Springfield +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.3%	14.7%	North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Springfield

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Springfield

37.7 in

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	37.7 in	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

North Charleston +

Springfield

9.4 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

North Charleston

75.0%

North Charleston +

Springfield

55.0%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	9.4 µg/m³	North Charleston +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	North Charleston +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

North Charleston

26.8 min

Springfield

19.4 min

Springfield +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Springfield, IL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.8 min	19.4 min	Springfield +

Which City is Right for You?

Springfield leads in median household income at $65,537, while springfield offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $168,312. On public safety, Springfield is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in North Charleston. 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%.

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