Naperville vs Charleston: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Naperville, IL and Charleston, SC, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,089 | 149,960 |
| Median household income | $143,754 | $83,891 |
| Median home value | $482,600 | $438,900 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,787 | $1,517 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Naperville, IL and Charleston, SC comes down to what you value most. Charleston has the lower median home value, and Charleston has the lower median rent.
Naperville has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Charleston?
- By median home value, Charleston is the cheaper of the two ($438,900 vs $482,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Naperville or Charleston?
- Median household income is $143,754 in Naperville versus $83,891 in Charleston, per the US Census Bureau.