The Town FilesJames Island, South Carolina
Town in Charleston County · population 11,621 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $508,600
- Household income
- $104,217
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 41.7
James Island is a town of 11,621 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $508,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more upscale than 97% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 95% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 93% of South Carolina towns.
How James Island 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 James Island is worth $508,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $104,217, which is more affordable than 15% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,695 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | James Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $508,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,695 | $937 |
| Median household income | $104,217 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in James Island
| People | James Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in James Island
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
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of James Island since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 11, 1960 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2011.
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 James Island itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near James Island
- Folly Beach, SC4.8 mi · 2,078 people · home $1,000,000
- Mount Pleasant, SC6.5 mi · 90,801 people · home $748,500
- Sullivan's Island, SC6.6 mi · 1,891 people · home $2,000,001
- Charleston, SC6.7 mi · 150,227 people · home $509,700
- Kiawah Island, SC10.9 mi · 2,013 people · home $2,000,001
- Isle of Palms, SC11.7 mi · 4,347 people · home $1,581,300
- Hanahan, SC14.0 mi · 20,325 people · home $374,800
- North Charleston, SC14.6 mi · 114,852 people · home $302,200
James Island questions
Is James Island, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, James Island scores better for retirees than 82% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 50%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in James Island?
The median owner-occupied home in James Island is valued at $508,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,217, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,695 a month.
What is the weather like in James Island?
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 James Island get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of James Island 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)