Quality of life comparison
If you lived in New York instead of South Carolina, you would:
Health
live 2.9 years longer
In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In New York, that number is 78 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020.
be 15.5% less likely to be obese
In South Carolina, 35.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In New York, that number is 29.9% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 84.3% more money
South Carolina has a GDP per capita of $49,914 as of 2024, while in New York, the GDP per capita is $91,992 as of 2024.
be 10.2% less likely to be unemployed
In South Carolina, 4.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In New York, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
Safety
be 16.1% less 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 New York, that number is 381 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 16.8% less 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 New York, that number is 1,760 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 26.6% more money
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 as of 2023, while in New York, it is $84,578 as of 2023.
pay 70.3% more for a home
The median home value in South Carolina is $236,700 as of 2023, compared to $403,000 in New York as of 2023.
pay 40.0% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Carolina is $1,126 as of 2023, while in New York, it is $1,576 as of 2023.
be 23.9% less likely to own your home
In South Carolina, 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In New York, that number is 54.3% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 45.7% less likely to be uninsured
In South Carolina, 9.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In New York, that number is 5.0% as of 2023.
be 18.5% less likely to smoke
In South Carolina, 15.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In New York, that number is 12.8% as of 2022.
be 35.8% 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 New York, that number is 27.7% as of 2023.
be 3.1 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 New York, that number is 9.1% as of 2023.
commute 7.2 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Carolina takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In New York, it takes 32.8 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 2.3 times more densely populated
South Carolina has a population density of 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023. In New York, that number is 161.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 21.5% more likely to be food insecure
In South Carolina, 9.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In New York, that number is 11.3% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, 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.
