Population 420,264 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Charleston County
Household size in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.61 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.10 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Charleston County are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.46, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 36.2 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 37.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.4 | 38.5 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 39.2 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +3.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Charleston County are younger than 40.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.4, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 12.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 10.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Charleston County: 8.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of South Carolina's 46 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Charleston County
Renters in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3% | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.6% | 35.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 33.8% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.1% | 30.9% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Charleston County is about as common as it is nationally: 36.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in the Charleston area as a whole (30.9%). Among owners, 34.1% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.2 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 13.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 11.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 9.9% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Charleston County: 12.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1986 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1989 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1995 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Charleston County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are older than in the Charleston area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1995. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,038 | $1,002 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,126 | $1,088 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,338 | $1,260 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,834 | $1,767 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$796 | +$765 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Charleston County costs $1,834 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $796 a month since 2006–10, up 77%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other South Carolina county has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Charleston County
Bachelor's degrees in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7% | 30.2% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.1% | 32.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.0% | 35.9% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.7% | 41.2% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +11.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Charleston County: 50.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Charleston County has the highest share of college graduates of any South Carolina county.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 87.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 89.1% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 90.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 92.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +4.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Charleston County is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.0 points, mirroring the country. Only one other South Carolina county has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Charleston County
| Period | Charleston County | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.8% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −4.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Charleston County than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Few South Carolina counties have lower unemployment: only three of 46. Unemployment is down 4.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Charleston County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | 2.36 | 40.0 | 8.2% | 36.1% | 12.4% | 1990 | $1,834 | 50.7% | 93.4% | 3.4% |
| Dorchester County | 2.69 | 38.3 | 14.0% | 24.5% | 7.7% | 1999 | $1,575 | 29.6% | 92.0% | 4.9% |
| Colleton County | 2.39 | 42.6 | 16.5% | 26.7% | 14.0% | 1987 | $1,002 | 17.7% | 84.5% | 8.9% |
| Hampton County | 2.48 | 41.4 | 15.9% | 26.6% | 16.1% | 1983 | $822 | 12.4% | 85.0% | 8.6% |
| Allendale County | 2.20 | 45.4 | 14.8% | 38.3% | 17.0% | 1981 | $653 | 15.1% | 79.8% | 8.0% |
| Screven County | 2.98 | 42.7 | 17.4% | 30.2% | 25.0% | 1979 | $730 | 15.0% | 85.0% | 4.4% |
| Jenkins County | 2.26 | 42.7 | 13.8% | 17.8% | 30.8% | 1980 | $614 | 8.6% | 79.5% | 1.9% |
| Washington County | 2.62 | 41.3 | 19.8% | 35.5% | 17.2% | 1982 | $817 | 17.1% | 84.2% | 8.6% |
| Wilkinson County | 2.51 | 43.9 | 13.4% | 19.5% | 17.9% | 1982 | $831 | 12.1% | 88.7% | 5.0% |
| Twiggs County | 2.79 | 46.7 | 8.4% | 11.8% | 28.6% | 1984 | $791 | 10.4% | 77.4% | 3.9% |
| Jones County | 2.66 | 42.8 | 12.3% | 16.4% | 10.5% | 1990 | $956 | 18.6% | 90.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Placer County, CA · Davis County, UT · Santa Barbara County, CA · San Juan Municipio, PR · Rutherford County, TN · Rockland County, NY · Hillsborough County, NH · Richland County, SC · Pulaski County, AR · Albany County, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Charleston County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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