Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Pennsylvania instead of South Carolina, you would:
Health
live 2.0 years longer
In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In Pennsylvania, that number is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
make 23.2% more money
South Carolina has a GDP per capita of $49,914 as of 2024, while in Pennsylvania, the GDP per capita is $61,506 as of 2024.
be 24.5% less likely to be unemployed
In South Carolina, 4.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Pennsylvania, that number is 3.7% as of 2025.
be 12.4% less likely to live below the poverty line
In South Carolina, 12.9% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Pennsylvania, however, that number is 11.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 41.8% 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 Pennsylvania, that number is 264 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 25.9% 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 Pennsylvania, that number is 1,567 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 13.9% more money
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 as of 2023, while in Pennsylvania, it is $76,081 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 40.2% less likely to be uninsured
In South Carolina, 9.2% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Pennsylvania, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.
be 18.6% 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 Pennsylvania, that number is 24.2% as of 2023.
be 13.8% 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 Pennsylvania, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 62.4% more densely populated
South Carolina has a population density of 69.1 people per sq km as of 2023. In Pennsylvania, that number is 112.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
