Quality of life comparison
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of South Carolina, you would:
Health
live 3.2 years longer
In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In District of Columbia, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2019.
be 28.5% less likely to be obese
In South Carolina, 35.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 25.3% of people as of 2022.
be 20.0% less likely to have diabetes
In South Carolina, 11.0% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 8.8% as of 2022.
Economy
make 4.2 times more money
South Carolina has a GDP per capita of $49,914 as of 2024, while in District of Columbia, the GDP per capita is $209,167 as of 2024.
be 30.6% more likely to be unemployed
In South Carolina, 4.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.4% as of 2025.
Safety
be 2.5 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Carolina has a violent crime rate of 454 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 1,126 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 99.3% more likely to be a victim of property crime
South Carolina has a property crime rate of 2,116 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,216 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 59.1% more money
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $106,287 as of 2023.
pay 3.1 times more for a home
The median home value in South Carolina is $236,700 as of 2023, compared to $724,600 in District of Columbia as of 2023.
pay 68.7% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Carolina is $1,126 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $1,900 as of 2023.
be 42.4% less likely to own your home
In South Carolina, 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 41.1% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 64.1% less likely to be uninsured
In South Carolina, 9.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 26.1% less likely to smoke
In South Carolina, 15.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 37.0% less likely to be physically inactive
In South Carolina, 24.6% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 15.5% as of 2022.
be 2.2 times more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Carolina, 20.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 44.4% as of 2023.
be 2.2 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Carolina, 2.9% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.
commute 4.7 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Carolina takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In District of Columbia, it takes 30.3 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 5.2 years older on average
The median age in South Carolina is 40.1 years as of 2023. In District of Columbia, the median age is 34.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 62.6 times more densely populated
South Carolina has a population density of 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,322.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
