Savannah receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Charleston-North Charleston
Savannah
Opportunity
87 · Top 2%
vs89 · Top 1%
Growth
84 · Top 3%
vs83 · Top 4%
Climate
77 · Top 10%
vs72 · Top 30%
Physical resilience
27 · Bottom 16%
vs30 · Bottom 19%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 15%
vs79 · Bottom 20%
Access
54 · Bottom 16%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
73 · Top 21%
vs67 · Top 30%
Measured values
| Metric | Charleston-North Charleston | Savannah | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 834,267 | 418,285 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,254 | $77,180 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,581 | $40,645 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 322/sq mi | 310/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $377,500 | $302,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,605 | $1,454 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.1% | 62.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.1% | 1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 35.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,730 | 5,038 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.3 | 12.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.8% | -1.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 40°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.5" | 48.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 77 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 27.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.2 | 36.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Charleston-North Charleston
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Savannah
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Charleston-North Charleston
68
Your Score
69
Area Score
Savannah
74
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area · Savannah, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology