Charleston, South Carolina
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Charleston, compared with South Carolina and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Charleston city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 4513330 · South Carolina directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 159,423 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- +0.4% +632 residents
- Household income
- $92,414 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$3,404
- Home value
- $509,700 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$17,642
- Monthly gross rent
- $1,722 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$33
- Median age
- 36.6 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±0.6
Charleston is an incorporated city in Berkeley County and Charleston County, South Carolina, part of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area. With 159,423 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 1st in South Carolina and 168th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 632 (0.4%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 5.8%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $1,722 a month, 45.9% above the South Carolina median. Median household income is $92,414, 33.3% above the South Carolina median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Charleston?
Compared with other South Carolina places, Charleston is most distinctive for higher rents, higher home values and fewer people without health insurance. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Median gross rent: $1,722, 45.9% above the South Carolina median ($1,180); higher than 97% of 200 South Carolina places with reliable estimates. It ranks 5th of 200 in South Carolina.
- Median home value: $509,700, 2.0 times the South Carolina median ($259,000); higher than 95% of 226 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.
- People without health insurance: 6.0%, 3.7 percentage points below the South Carolina rate (9.6%); lower than 92% of 113 South Carolina places with reliable estimates. Only 8 of 113 South Carolina places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Median real estate taxes paid: $2,214, 77.0% above the South Carolina median ($1,251); higher than 92% of 220 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.
- Median household income: $92,414, 33.3% above the South Carolina median ($69,324); higher than 91% of 212 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.
How Charleston compares with South Carolina and the U.S.
| Measure | Charleston | South Carolina | U.S. | Position in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | +5.8% | — | — | higher than 63% of 257 South Carolina places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 1,383 | — | — | higher than 86% of 271 South Carolina places |
| Median household income B19013 | $92,414 ±$3,404 | $69,324 | $80,734 | higher than 91% of 212 South Carolina places |
| Median home value B25077 | $509,700 ±$17,642 | $259,000 | $332,700 | higher than 95% of 226 South Carolina places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $2,214 ±$86 | $1,251 | $3,119 | higher than 92% of 220 South Carolina places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $1,722 ±$33 | $1,180 | $1,413 | higher than 97% of 200 South Carolina places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 54.5% ±3.2 pp | 52.1% | 51.1% | lower than 52% of 115 South Carolina places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 55.6% ±1.5 pp | 71.9% | 65.2% | lower than 76% of 252 South Carolina places |
| Median age B01002 | 36.6 years ±0.6 | 40.2 years | 38.9 years | lower than 72% of 252 South Carolina places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 58.3% ±1.8 pp | 32.1% | 35.7% | higher than 90% of 168 South Carolina places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 12.3% ±1.2 pp | 14.1% | 12.5% | lower than 79% of 133 South Carolina places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 6.0% ±0.6 pp | 9.6% | 8.4% | lower than 92% of 113 South Carolina places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 92.8% ±0.7 pp | 88.8% | 91.0% | higher than 85% of 252 South Carolina places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 3.4% ±0.6 pp | 4.9% | 5.2% | lower than 82% of 38 South Carolina places |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 6.0% ±0.7 pp | 5.8% | 14.1% | lower than 51% of 51 South Carolina places |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 72.3 | — | — | higher than 83% of 175 South Carolina places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | +9.3% | — | — | higher than 67% of 154 South Carolina places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 19.4% ±1.4 pp | 11.5% | 15.1% | higher than 82% of 66 South Carolina places |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 12.1% ±1.8 pp | 14.7% | 16.5% | lower than 76% of 126 South Carolina places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 7.2% ±0.9 pp | 5.7% | 8.4% | lower than 76% of 62 South Carolina places |
Positions compare Charleston with South Carolina places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation.
How many people live in Charleston?
The latest official estimate is 159,423 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 168th by population nationally and 1st in South Carolina among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 632 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 151,225 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 152,328 | +1,103 |
| July 1, 2022 | 154,665 | +2,337 |
| July 1, 2023 | 156,771 | +2,106 |
| July 1, 2024 | 158,791 | +2,020 |
| July 1, 2025 | 159,423 | +632 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +8,677 residents (5.8%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Charleston city, South Carolina · Incorporated city · 4513330
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Berkeley County ; Charleston County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 115.3 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 20.9 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 1,383 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 32.828017°, -79.972896° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $92,414 ±$3,404 | $69,324 ±$570 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $59,875 ±$2,170 | $39,236 ±$299 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 18,295 ±1,805 | 12.3% ±1.2 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 12.3% (±1.2 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $509,700 ±$17,642 | $259,000 ±$1,421 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $1,722 ±$33 | $1,180 ±$9 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 37,816 ±1,270 | 55.6% ±1.5 pp |
| Renter occupied | 30,211 ±1,360 | 44.4% ±1.8 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 55.6% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 5.5 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $1,528 | ±$171 | Estimate with MOE |
| 1 bedroom | $1,574 | ±$68 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,746 | ±$49 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,213 | ±$135 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,628 | ±$761 | Estimate with MOE |
| 5 or more bedrooms | At least $3,500 | Unavailable | Open-ended range |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 88,450 ±1,857 | 67.6% ±1.2 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 42,451 ±1,577 | 32.4% ±1.2 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 84,432 ±1,706 | 96.6% ±2.8 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 2,954 ±528 | 3.4% ±0.6 pp |
These estimates describe residents of Charleston wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Charleston. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 23.7% (20,042 people; ±1.4 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 292 ±202 · low precision | 0.3% ±0.2 pp · low precision |
| Construction | 4,412 ±771 | 5.2% ±0.9 pp |
| Manufacturing | 5,492 ±774 | 6.5% ±0.9 pp |
| Wholesale trade | 1,835 ±513 | 2.2% ±0.6 pp |
| Retail trade | 7,932 ±924 | 9.4% ±1.1 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 3,116 ±569 | 3.7% ±0.7 pp |
| Information | 1,504 ±281 | 1.8% ±0.3 pp |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 6,740 ±801 | 8.0% ±0.9 pp |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 16,101 ±1,244 | 19.1% ±1.4 pp |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 20,042 ±1,242 | 23.7% ±1.4 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 9,787 ±970 | 11.6% ±1.1 pp |
| Other services, except public administration | 3,725 ±590 | 4.4% ±0.7 pp |
| Public administration | 3,454 ±567 | 4.1% ±0.7 pp |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 45,377 ±1,610 | 53.7% ±1.6 pp |
| Service occupations | 12,413 ±1,121 | 14.7% ±1.3 pp |
| Sales and office | 16,294 ±1,287 | 19.3% ±1.5 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 4,005 ±672 | 4.7% ±0.8 pp |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 6,343 ±855 | 7.5% ±1.0 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 12,665 ±994 | 15.0% ±1.1 pp |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 2,940 ±470 | 3.5% ±0.6 pp |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 5,301 ±661 | 6.3% ±0.8 pp |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 7,559 ±834 | 9.0% ±1.0 pp |
| Sales and related occupations | 9,266 ±909 | 11.0% ±1.1 pp |
| Transportation occupations | 1,992 ±460 | 2.4% ±0.5 pp |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 55,715 ±2,366 | 66.2% ±2.4 pp |
| Carpooled | 6,027 ±999 | 7.2% ±1.2 pp |
| Public transportation | 620 ±333 · low precision | 0.7% ±0.4 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 392 ±343 · low precision | 0.5% ±0.4 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 142 ±89 · low precision | 0.2% ±0.1 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 1,133 ±286 | 1.3% ±0.3 pp |
| Walked | 2,906 ±458 | 3.5% ±0.5 pp |
| Other means | 845 ±465 · low precision | 1.0% ±0.6 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 16,340 ±1,217 | 19.4% ±1.4 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 17,674 ±1,268 | 26.1% ±1.6 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 28,738 ±1,709 | 42.4% ±2.1 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 13,145 ±1,166 | 19.4% ±1.6 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 4,346 ±780 | 6.4% ±1.1 pp |
| 60 minutes or longer | 3,877 ±961 | 5.7% ±1.4 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 4,927 ±640 | 7.2% ±0.9 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 36.6 years (±0.6). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with South Carolina and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Charleston?
Employers in Charleston reported 113,300 jobs in 2023, +9.3% compared with 2019 (103,635 jobs). That is 72.3 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | South Carolina share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 25,899 | 22.9% | 13.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16,670 | 14.7% | 10.7% |
| Educational services | 12,257 | 10.8% | 8.1% |
| Retail trade | 12,106 | 10.7% | 11.9% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 11,345 | 10.0% | 5.9% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 5,633 | 5.0% | 7.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 3,518 | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| Public administration | 3,341 | 2.9% | 4.5% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 3,316 | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| Information | 3,137 | 2.8% | 1.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,114 | 2.7% | 3.8% |
| Other services, except public administration | 3,037 | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Construction | 2,985 | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 2,580 | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 2,095 | 1.8% | 3.8% |
| Manufacturing | 1,329 | 1.2% | 12.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 564 | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Utilities | 282 | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 87 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 5 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | South Carolina share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 22,230 | 19.6% | 19.5% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 26,144 | 23.1% | 28.9% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 64,926 | 57.3% | 51.6% |
| Age 29 or younger | 27,109 | 23.9% | 22.7% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 61,459 | 54.2% | 52.7% |
| Age 55 or older | 24,732 | 21.8% | 24.6% |
Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Charleston (22.9% of local jobs, compared with 13.6% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
CHARLESTON CITY, SC (NOAA station USW00013782) is approximately 6.6 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.
| Month | Average daily high (°F) | Average daily low (°F) | Precipitation (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58.0 | 43.6 | 2.56 |
| February | 60.3 | 46.1 | 2.56 |
| March | 65.6 | 52.0 | 3.03 |
| April | 72.3 | 59.7 | 2.96 |
| May | 79.0 | 68.0 | 2.58 |
| June | 84.3 | 74.2 | 4.85 |
| July | 87.5 | 77.1 | 5.08 |
| August | 86.4 | 76.5 | 6.11 |
| September | 82.6 | 72.5 | 5.25 |
| October | 75.6 | 63.2 | 4.07 |
| November | 67.1 | 53.1 | 2.30 |
| December | 60.9 | 46.8 | 2.91 |
Station location: 32.78°, -79.9319°; elevation 3.0 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.