The Charleston metro area: Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties · Population 834,267 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Charleston area
Household size in the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in the Charleston area has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.61, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
At 39.2, the median age in the Charleston area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in South Carolina overall, where the median age is 41.2. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, mirroring the country.
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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in the Charleston area (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 the Charleston area
Renters in the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.8% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.9% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Charleston area own their homes; 30.9% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.8 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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Charleston area is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in South Carolina overall (11.8%). Vacancy is down 3.6 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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in the Charleston area is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1995, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only seven have newer homes.
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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,002 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,088 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,260 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,767 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$765 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Charleston area costs $1,767 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $765 a month since 2006–10, up 76%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the east.
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 the Charleston area
Bachelor's degrees in the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.9% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.2% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in the Charleston area (41.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 11.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.1% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Charleston area is above the national rate: 92.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Charleston area
| Period | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Charleston area runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only seven have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.2 points, 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).
Largest cities in the Charleston area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston area (all) | 2.51 | 39.2 | 10.1% | 30.9% | 9.9% | 1995 | $1,767 | 41.2% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Summerville | 2.73 | 37.4 | 13.4% | 22.2% | 6.9% | 2002 | $1,703 | 32.9% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| North Charleston | 2.39 | 36.6 | 13.5% | 50.0% | 10.1% | 1987 | $1,458 | 25.9% | 86.8% | 4.3% |
| Mount Pleasant | 2.45 | 42.8 | 5.5% | 26.9% | 10.2% | 1999 | $2,439 | 67.5% | 97.3% | 3.2% |
| Goose Creek | 2.60 | 36.7 | 11.4% | 30.4% | 5.8% | 1995 | $1,686 | 27.6% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
| Ladson | 2.71 | 33.6 | 13.0% | 33.1% | 7.3% | 2002 | $1,781 | 25.9% | 92.6% | 5.2% |
| Moncks Corner | 2.79 | 38.6 | 10.4% | 17.6% | 5.8% | 2001 | $1,754 | 29.6% | 92.2% | 3.9% |
| Johns Island | 2.44 | 41.7 | 6.5% | 15.4% | 11.8% | 2009 | $1,581 | 54.9% | 94.4% | 1.9% |
| Hanahan | 2.68 | 37.6 | 11.4% | 32.7% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,572 | 38.7% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
| Ridgeville | 2.49 | 41.3 | 9.7% | 14.7% | 11.6% | 1997 | $1,249 | 13.7% | 80.8% | 1.0% |
| St. Stephen | 2.93 | 39.7 | 20.3% | 23.2% | 18.4% | 1988 | $1,193 | 13.6% | 84.5% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Colorado Springs area · Fort Myers area · Boise area · Greensboro area · Stockton area · Dayton area · Columbia area · Sarasota area · Oxnard area · Allentown area
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 the Charleston area. 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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