What it's like to live in James Island
James Island is a small city in South Carolina with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. James Island deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How James Island compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to James Island
Based on James Island's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$101,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $50,860
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Charleston County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Charleston County (county-wide)
Safety
240 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
James Island doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction as a whole, which runs below the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 870/100k · Policed by Charleston County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 38% above US
50% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 50% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (4 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
James Island's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals.
See all the data for James Island →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near James Island
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Charleston →
6 mi away · pop. 154,338
Rent $1,722/mo · Income $92,414
Compare with James Island →Moving to Mount Pleasant →
11 mi away · pop. 93,993
Rent $2,159/mo · Income $124,755
Compare with James Island →Moving to Hanahan →
14 mi away · pop. 21,452
Rent $1,412/mo · Income $87,984
Compare with James Island →Moving to North Charleston →
14 mi away · pop. 119,913
Rent $1,430/mo · Income $62,956
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