North Charleston SC vs St. Petersburg 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%

St. Petersburg, FL

Florida · Population: 260,646

Median HH Income$73,118
Median Home Price$331,500
Unemployment4.9%
Bachelor's+41.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

North Charleston

117,460

St. Petersburg

260,646

St. Petersburg +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

North Charleston

N/A

St. Petersburg

N/A

Median Age

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

43.1

Foreign Born

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

10.1%

White

North Charleston

39.1%

St. Petersburg

66.2%

St. Petersburg +

Black

North Charleston

42.2%

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

19.4%

Asian

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

3.1%

Hispanic

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

9.3%

Spanish at Home

North Charleston

N/A

St. Petersburg

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Population	117,460	260,646	St. Petersburg +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	43.1	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	12.2%	10.1%	North Charleston +
White	39.1%	66.2%	St. Petersburg +
Black	42.2%	19.4%	North Charleston +
Asian	3.5%	3.1%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	12.8%	9.3%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

North Charleston

$62,789

St. Petersburg

$73,118

St. Petersburg +

Per Capita Income

North Charleston

$35,740

St. Petersburg

$49,823

St. Petersburg +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

North Charleston

$54,550

St. Petersburg

$65,328

St. Petersburg +

Unemployment Rate

North Charleston

4.3%

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

4.9%

Poverty Rate

North Charleston

15.5%

St. Petersburg

11.7%

St. Petersburg +

Bachelor's Degree+

North Charleston

28.0%

St. Petersburg

41.3%

St. Petersburg +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Median HH Income	$62,789	$73,118	St. Petersburg +
Per Capita Income	$35,740	$49,823	St. Petersburg +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$54,550	$65,328	St. Petersburg +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	4.9%	North Charleston +
Poverty Rate	15.5%	11.7%	St. Petersburg +
Bachelor's Degree+	28.0%	41.3%	St. Petersburg +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

North Charleston

$313,219

North Charleston +

St. Petersburg

$331,500

Homeownership Rate

North Charleston

48.5%

St. Petersburg

63.0%

St. Petersburg +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$313,219	$331,500	North Charleston +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	63.0%	St. Petersburg +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

398

St. Petersburg

324

St. Petersburg +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

1999

St. Petersburg

1453

St. Petersburg +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	324	St. Petersburg +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	1453	St. Petersburg +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

35.2%

St. Petersburg

32.7%

St. Petersburg +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

13.2%

St. Petersburg

12.2%

St. Petersburg +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

North Charleston

17.5%

St. Petersburg

16.6%

St. Petersburg +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

15.3%

St. Petersburg

11.1%

St. Petersburg +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

19.8%

St. Petersburg

16.6%

St. Petersburg +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

14.3%

St. Petersburg

12.4%

St. Petersburg +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	32.7%	St. Petersburg +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.2%	12.2%	St. Petersburg +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.5%	16.6%	St. Petersburg +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	11.1%	St. Petersburg +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	19.8%	16.6%	St. Petersburg +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.3%	12.4%	St. Petersburg +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

St. Petersburg

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

St. Petersburg

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	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

St. Petersburg

7.2 µg/m³

St. Petersburg +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

North Charleston

75.0%

St. Petersburg

75.0%

Tie

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	7.2 µg/m³	St. Petersburg +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

North Charleston

26.8 min

St. Petersburg

26.8 min

Tie

Metric	North Charleston, SC	St. Petersburg, FL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.8 min	26.8 min	Tie

Which City is Right for You?

St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while north Charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,219. On public safety, St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.

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About North Charleston & St. Petersburg

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