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Living in
Goose Creek.
About
Life in Goose Creek
Goose Creek functions as a suburban residential hub for people who work in Charleston but want lower housing costs and more space. The Naval Station is the major employer, but you'll also find people commuting to Charleston's broader job market—plan on about 26 minutes depending on traffic. Housing is genuinely more affordable than Charleston, though prices have climbed with the region's 12% population growth over the past decade.
Goose Creek at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Foreign-Born
8.3%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
+12.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.3% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Goose Creek: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Goose Creek, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (15.5%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
12.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.9%
of households
Married Couples
53.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
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 43% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Goose Creek
In Goose Creek, rent runs 43% above the SC average, and home values are 18% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,422
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $324,332 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below SC average
Unemployment in Goose Creek and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Goose Creek is 0.5 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 Goose Creek 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
Commute26.7 min avg
How Goose Creek residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Goose Creek, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 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 25% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Goose Creek runs 25% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
246.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,215.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Goose Creek Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Berkeley County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Berkeley County, which includes Goose Creek, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $58,250 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 12 | Hail | $7,000 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4,500 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $71,500 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Berkeley County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Berkeley County, which includes Goose Creek, is typically good.
Median AQI
35
Berkeley County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Goose Creek has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"
Hot Days/Year
64
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
22
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 39°F | 3.37" |
| Feb | 64°F | 42°F | 3.05" |
| Mar | 70°F | 47°F | 3.35" |
| Apr | 77°F | 55°F | 3.29" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 3.32" |
| Jun | 89°F | 70°F | 6.21" |
| Jul | 91°F | 74°F | 6.60" |
| Aug | 90°F | 73°F | 6.97" |
| Sep | 85°F | 68°F | 6.01" |
| Oct | 78°F | 58°F | 4.33" |
| Nov | 69°F | 47°F | 2.66" |
| Dec | 63°F | 42°F | 3.35" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Goose Creek
Goose Creek has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Roper St Francis Hospital-berkeley Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trident Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Charleston
Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 10.9 mi away · Charleston
Bon Secours-st Francis Xavier Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Charleston
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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Goose Creek
Goose Creek's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Goose Creek (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
3.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,893 students · in-state tuition $34,080 · 47% graduate · median earnings $52,265 (10 yrs after entry)
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
14 mi awayPublic · 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
15 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 303 students · 95% graduate · median earnings $96,122 (10 yrs after entry)
American College of the Building Arts
13.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 155 students · in-state tuition $21,500 · 67% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Goose Creek
Goose Creek has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
70 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Goose Creek
Berkeley County Library: Goose Creek
325 Old Moncks Corner Road, Goose Creek
Cities Near Goose Creek
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Goose Creek?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Goose Creek FAQ
Is Goose Creek, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Goose Creek's median rent is $1,690/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $88,178/year. Median home value is $306,000.
Is Goose Creek, South Carolina safe?⌄
Goose Creek's violent crime rate was 247 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1215 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Goose Creek, South Carolina?⌄
Goose Creek has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Goose Creek, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Goose Creek is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,690/month and median household income is $88,178/year. The median home value is $306,000. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Goose Creek, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Goose Creek is 27 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