North Charleston SC vs Tallahassee 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%

Tallahassee, FL

Florida · Population: 199,696

  • Median HH Income$55,931
  • Median Home Price$293,664
  • Unemployment6.5%
  • Bachelor's+51.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
North Charleston
117,460
Tallahassee
199,696
Tallahassee +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
North Charleston
N/A
Tallahassee
N/A
Median Age
North Charleston
34.3
Tallahassee
28.0
Tallahassee +
Foreign Born
North Charleston
12.2%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
8.0%
White
North Charleston
39.1%
Tallahassee
50.7%
Tallahassee +
Black
North Charleston
42.2%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
35.7%
Asian
North Charleston
3.5%
Tallahassee
4.0%
Tallahassee +
Hispanic
North Charleston
12.8%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
8.6%
Spanish at Home
North Charleston
N/A
Tallahassee
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
North Charleston
$62,789
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
$55,931
Per Capita Income
North Charleston
$35,740
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
$35,704
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
North Charleston
$54,550
Tallahassee
$65,328
Tallahassee +
Unemployment Rate
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
6.5%
Poverty Rate
North Charleston
15.5%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
23.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
North Charleston
28.0%
Tallahassee
51.0%
Tallahassee +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
North Charleston
$313,219
Tallahassee
$293,664
Tallahassee +
Homeownership Rate
North Charleston
48.5%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
39.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
398
Tallahassee
324
Tallahassee +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
North Charleston
1999
Tallahassee
1453
Tallahassee +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
35.2%
Tallahassee
34.1%
Tallahassee +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
13.2%
Tallahassee
9.6%
Tallahassee +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
North Charleston
17.5%
North Charleston +
Tallahassee
20.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
15.3%
Tallahassee
13.2%
Tallahassee +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
19.8%
Tallahassee
16.7%
Tallahassee +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
North Charleston
14.3%
Tallahassee
12.2%
Tallahassee +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Tallahassee
67.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
North Charleston
N/A
Tallahassee
58.1 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
North Charleston
26.8 min
Tallahassee
20.3 min
Tallahassee +

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, while tallahassee offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $293,664. On public safety, Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tallahassee scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.1%.

Compare More Cities

About North Charleston & Tallahassee