The Town FilesCharleston, South Carolina
City in Charleston County · population 150,227 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $509,700
- Household income
- $92,414
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 36.6
Charleston is a city of 150,227 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $509,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 97% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 95% of South Carolina towns.
How Charleston ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charleston is worth $509,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $92,414, which is more affordable than 11% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,722 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charleston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $509,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,722 | $937 |
| Median household income | $92,414 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Charleston
| People | Charleston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Charleston
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 43.6°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 11, 1960 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 133 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 26, 2013.
Severe weather in Charleston County since 1996
Charleston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Charleston County
Charleston County had 278,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,271 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Charleston
32 public schools with 19,067 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ashley High | 9-12 | 2,043 | 16.9 |
| James Island Charter High (charter) | 9-12 | 1,597 | 14.9 |
| C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art | 6-8 | 1,241 | 14.3 |
| Orange Grove Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 1,169 | 15.6 |
| Daniel Island School | K-8 | 1,146 | 15.7 |
| Camp Road Middle | 6-8 | 857 | 16.5 |
| Stiles Point Elementary | PK-5 | 813 | 17.3 |
| Philip Simmons High | 9-12 | 809 | 14.7 |
| St. Andrew's School of Math and Science | PK-5 | 733 | 15.6 |
| Springfield Elementary | PK-5 | 674 | 14.3 |
| Harbor View Elementary | PK-5 | 662 | 16.1 |
| Drayton Hall Elementary | PK-5 | 655 | 16.4 |
Towns near Charleston
- Mount Pleasant, SC6.4 mi · 90,801 people · home $748,500
- James Island, SC6.7 mi · 11,621 people · home $508,600
- Hanahan, SC7.3 mi · 20,325 people · home $374,800
- North Charleston, SC8.2 mi · 114,852 people · home $302,200
- Goose Creek, SC11.7 mi · 45,946 people · home $306,000
- Isle of Palms, SC12.9 mi · 4,347 people · home $1,581,300
- Hollywood, SC14.3 mi · 5,339 people · home $460,100
- Ladson, SC14.8 mi · 15,550 people · home $234,900
Charleston questions
Is Charleston, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charleston scores better for retirees than 76% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in Charleston is valued at $509,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,414, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,722 a month.
What is the weather like in Charleston?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 43.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Charleston get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 11, 1960. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)