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Living in
Ladson.
Ladson is an unincorporated community in Berkeley County, SC. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Ladson
Living in Ladson puts you in the heart of the Lowcountry's middle ground—close enough to Charleston's energy and job opportunities (just 20 miles away), but far enough to avoid the tourist crowds and sky-high coastal prices. The median home value hovers around $235,000 with median household income at $79,000, which means you're getting genuinely affordable housing compared to Charleston proper, though it's climbing steadily as more people discover the area. The job market is solid with unemployment at just 3.6%, and you've got easy access to I-26 for commuting to Charleston, Columbia, or elsewhere, though expect a reasonable 31-minute average commute depending on where you're headed.
Ladson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Foreign-Born
13.5%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ladson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ladson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.7%), and 12.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.8%
of households
Married Couples
38.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.79
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 51% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Ladson
In Ladson, rent runs 51% above the SC average, and home values are 9% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,040
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $314,411 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below SC average
Unemployment in Ladson and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Berkeley County, which includes Ladson, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Ladson: Berkeley County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Berkeley County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Ladson 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
Commute30.9 min avg
How Ladson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ladson, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 49% 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 27% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, which covers Ladson, 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 — 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 Ladson, 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.
4 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 Ladson, 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
Ladson 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
53.6"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ladson
Uninsured
18.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ladson's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Trident Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Charleston
Roper St Francis Hospital-berkeley Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Summerville
Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 12.8 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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ladson
Ladson's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ladson (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
2.2 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: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ladson
Ladson has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
19 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
21 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
67 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
82 mi awayCities Near Ladson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ladson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ladson FAQ
Is Ladson, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Ladson's median rent is $1,785/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $78,760/year. Median home value is $234,900.
Is Ladson, South Carolina safe?⌄
Ladson 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 Ladson, South Carolina?⌄
Berkeley County, which includes Ladson, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ladson, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Ladson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,785/month and median household income is $78,760/year. The median home value is $234,900. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ladson, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Ladson is 31 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