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Living in
James Island.
About
Life in James Island
James Island is a community of 11,738 people in South Carolina. The median household income is $104,217, and median home values are around $508,600. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
James Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
+5.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from England
Who lives in James Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In James Island, the largest foreign-born group is from England (25.1%), and 1.0% of residents speak German/Germanic at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.1%
of households
Married Couples
64.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
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 Living
Rent, home values, and income in James Island
In James Island, home values are 96% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,784
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
87.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below SC average
Unemployment in James Island and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Charleston County, which includes James Island, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
James Island: Charleston County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Charleston County (county-wide) · Annual averages
James Island is about 3% of Charleston County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What James Island 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
Commute22.5 min avg
How James Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In James Island, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 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 27% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, which covers James Island, runs 27% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
240.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
870.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Charleston County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 James Island, 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
James Island is about 3% of Charleston County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Charleston County, which includes James Island, 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
James Island is about 3% of Charleston County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 46°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
James Island 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
53.5"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in James Island
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside James Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Roper Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Charleston
Musc Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Charleston
Charleston VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.5 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.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in James Island
James Island's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 49.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near James Island (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 10,558 students · in-state tuition $12,978 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,018 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,512 students · in-state tuition $4,836 · 23% graduate · median earnings $42,433 (10 yrs after entry)
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
4.4 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
3.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 303 students · 95% graduate · median earnings $96,122 (10 yrs after entry)
American College of the Building Arts
4.8 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: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for James Island
James Island has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
48 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
76 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
87 mi awayCities Near James Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to James Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
James Island FAQ
Is James Island, South Carolina safe?⌄
James Island is policed by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 240 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 870 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in James Island, South Carolina?⌄
Charleston County, which includes James Island, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in James Island, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in James Island is 23 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