© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Charleston.
About
Life in Charleston
The median home price hovers around $509,700 and rent runs about $1,722 a month, so Charleston isn't cheap anymore, though the median household income of $92,414 helps offset some of that pressure. The economy runs on tourism, the Port of Charleston (one of the busiest in the country), aerospace manufacturing through Boeing, and a growing tech scene nicknamed "Silicon Harbor," so job availability is solid with unemployment at just 3.6%—you'll find work if you need it, particularly in logistics, tech, or hospitality. The weather is the real trade-off here: summers are hot and genuinely humid (dewpoints in the upper 60s to low 70s from June through August), and almost half the annual rainfall arrives during those months as thundershowers, so expect afternoon downpours regularly.
Charleston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
92.8%
of households
Population Growth
+5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Charleston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Charleston, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.8%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.7%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Charleston
In Charleston, rent runs 46% above the SC average, and home values are 97% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,214
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $587,511 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below SC average
Unemployment in Charleston and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Charleston is 1 percentage points lower than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Charleston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area
Commute24.2 min avg
How Charleston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Charleston, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Charleston runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
279.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,612.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Charleston Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 26 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Charleston County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Charleston County, which includes Charleston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 26 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,500 |
| 2024 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $252,000 |
| 2023 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,000 |
| 2022 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $218,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $57,500 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27,500 |
| 2018 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Charleston County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Charleston County, which includes Charleston, is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
142
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Charleston County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 46°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Charleston has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and warm winters (avg low 46°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/60°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/63°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/46°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"
Hot Days/Year
25
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
6
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 44°F | 2.56" |
| Feb | 60°F | 46°F | 2.56" |
| Mar | 66°F | 52°F | 3.03" |
| Apr | 72°F | 60°F | 2.96" |
| May | 79°F | 68°F | 2.58" |
| Jun | 84°F | 74°F | 4.85" |
| Jul | 88°F | 77°F | 5.08" |
| Aug | 86°F | 77°F | 6.11" |
| Sep | 83°F | 73°F | 5.25" |
| Oct | 76°F | 63°F | 4.07" |
| Nov | 67°F | 53°F | 2.30" |
| Dec | 61°F | 47°F | 2.91" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Charleston
Charleston has 4 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Charleston VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Roper Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Bon Secours-st Francis Xavier Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Musc Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 1.6 mi away · Charleston
Novant Health East Cooper Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Mount Pleasant
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Charleston
Charleston's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 58.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
35
within city limits
Private Schools
19
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Charleston
Public · 4-year · 10,558 students · in-state tuition $12,978 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,018 (10 yrs after entry)
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Public · 4-year · 2,705 students · in-state tuition $12,570 · 73% graduate · median earnings $82,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Medical University of South Carolina
Public · 4-year · 303 students · 95% graduate · median earnings $96,122 (10 yrs after entry)
American College of the Building Arts
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 155 students · in-state tuition $21,500 · 67% graduate
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,512 students · in-state tuition $4,836 · 23% graduate · median earnings $42,433 (10 yrs after entry)
Charleston Southern University
13 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,893 students · in-state tuition $34,080 · 47% graduate · median earnings $52,265 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Charleston
Charleston has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
78 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Charleston
Main Library
68 Calhoun Street, Charleston
Berkeley County Library: Daniel Island
2301 Daniel Island Drive, Daniel Island
Cynthia Graham Hurd St. Andrews Library
1735 N. Woodmere Drive, Charleston
John L. Dart Library
1067 King Street, Charleston
John`S Island Library
3531 Maybank Highway, John`S Island
West Ashley Library
45 Windemere Blvd., Charleston
Cities Near Charleston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Charleston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Charleston FAQ
Is Charleston, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Charleston's median rent is $1,722/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $92,414/year. Median home value is $509,700.
Is Charleston, South Carolina safe?⌄
Charleston's violent crime rate was 279 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1612 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Charleston, South Carolina?⌄
Charleston has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Charleston, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Charleston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,722/month and median household income is $92,414/year. The median home value is $509,700. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Charleston, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Charleston is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from