North Charleston SC vs Wilmington DE — 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%

Wilmington, DE

Delaware · Population: 71,124

Median HH Income$55,269
Median Home Price$327,117
Unemployment7.6%
Bachelor's+33.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

North Charleston

117,460

North Charleston +

Wilmington

71,124

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

North Charleston

N/A

Wilmington

N/A

Median Age

North Charleston

34.3

North Charleston +

Wilmington

37.0

Foreign Born

North Charleston

12.2%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

8.3%

White

North Charleston

39.1%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

32.4%

Black

North Charleston

42.2%

Wilmington

52.3%

Wilmington +

Asian

North Charleston

3.5%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

1.6%

Hispanic

North Charleston

12.8%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

11.8%

Spanish at Home

North Charleston

N/A

Wilmington

N/A

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Population	117,460	71,124	North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	34.3	37.0	North Charleston +
Foreign Born	12.2%	8.3%	North Charleston +
White	39.1%	32.4%	North Charleston +
Black	42.2%	52.3%	Wilmington +
Asian	3.5%	1.6%	North Charleston +
Hispanic	12.8%	11.8%	North Charleston +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

North Charleston

$62,789

North Charleston +

Wilmington

$55,269

Per Capita Income

North Charleston

$35,740

Wilmington

$38,786

Wilmington +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

North Charleston

$54,550

Wilmington

$64,087

Wilmington +

Unemployment Rate

North Charleston

4.3%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

7.6%

Poverty Rate

North Charleston

15.5%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

23.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

North Charleston

28.0%

Wilmington

33.1%

Wilmington +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Median HH Income	$62,789	$55,269	North Charleston +
Per Capita Income	$35,740	$38,786	Wilmington +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$54,550	$64,087	Wilmington +
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	7.6%	North Charleston +
Poverty Rate	15.5%	23.2%	North Charleston +
Bachelor's Degree+	28.0%	33.1%	Wilmington +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

North Charleston

$313,219

North Charleston +

Wilmington

$327,117

Homeownership Rate

North Charleston

48.5%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

46.0%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$313,219	$327,117	North Charleston +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	46.0%	North Charleston +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

398

Wilmington

394

Wilmington +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

North Charleston

1999

Wilmington

1991

Wilmington +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	394	Wilmington +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	1991	Wilmington +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

35.2%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

41.0%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

13.2%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

16.0%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

North Charleston

17.5%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

18.4%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

15.3%

Wilmington

12.7%

Wilmington +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

19.8%

Wilmington

13.5%

Wilmington +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

North Charleston

14.3%

North Charleston +

Wilmington

16.4%

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	35.2%	41.0%	North Charleston +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.2%	16.0%	North Charleston +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	17.5%	18.4%	North Charleston +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	12.7%	Wilmington +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	19.8%	13.5%	Wilmington +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	14.3%	16.4%	North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Wilmington

54.4°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

North Charleston

N/A

Wilmington

49.3 in

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	54.4°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	49.3 in	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

North Charleston

8.6 µg/m³

North Charleston +

Wilmington

8.8 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

North Charleston

75.0%

Wilmington

75.0%

Tie

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	8.8 µg/m³	North Charleston +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

North Charleston

26.8 min

Wilmington

25.0 min

Wilmington +

Metric	North Charleston, SC	Wilmington, DE	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	26.8 min	25.0 min	Wilmington +

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, while north Charleston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,219. On public safety, Wilmington is safer with a violent crime rate of 394 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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About North Charleston & Wilmington

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