North Charleston vs San Marcos
The short version
- San Marcos is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the North Charleston area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $302,200 in North Charleston and $310,400 in San Marcos.
- Households earn more in North Charleston ($62,956 vs $51,281 median).
- San Marcos has more scorching days: 124 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 64.
- San Marcos is growing faster: +14.9% since 2020 vs +12.5%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; South Carolina's top rate is 6%.
Side by side
| North Charleston, SC | San Marcos, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 129,245 | 77,830 |
| Growth since 2020 | +12.5% | +14.9% |
| People per square mile | 1,658 | 1,949 |
| Median age | 34.6 | 25.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29% | 38% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $62,956 | $51,281 |
| Median home value | $302,200 | $310,400 |
| Home value to income | 4.8× | 6.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,430 | $1,322 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 101.0 | 98.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 119.8 | 120.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,700 | $73,500 |
| Homeowners | 50% | 31% |
| Top state income tax | 6% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 7.49% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.5 | 24.0 |
| Work from home | 10% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 26.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 60° / 39° | 63° / 38° |
| July high / low | 91° / 74° | 96° / 73° |
| Precipitation per year | 53 in | 36 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 64 | 124 |
| Nights below freezing | 22 | 33 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 98.6 | 90.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 60% | 44% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.7% | +0.3% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +61.6% | +15.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: North Charleston: March to May and October to November. San Marcos: February to April and October to November.
Full monthly tables: North Charleston weather by month and San Marcos weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,700 in North Charleston and $73,500 in San Marcos. Moving from North Charleston to San Marcos, you would need about $72,800 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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