1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Charleston County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $88,494. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Charleston County at a glance
- Housing costs in Charleston County
- What Charleston County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Charleston County
- Charleston County towns compared
- Charleston County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Charleston County's medians
- Charleston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Charleston County
- Licensing and complaints for Charleston County
- A Charleston County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Charleston County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Charleston County's population at 420,264; only 2 of South Carolina's 46 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 918 square miles, that is close to 458 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (15 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Charleston, with about 154,338 residents, or 37% of the county.
Housing costs in Charleston County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,620 in Charleston County versus $1,180 statewide. By the Census definition, 53% of Charleston County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $489,100, a typical Charleston County house costs 5.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 64% of Charleston County households own their home and 36% rent. Median construction year: 1991.
| Measure | Charleston County | South Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,620/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $489,100 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 14.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 13% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What Charleston County households earn
Charleston County households have a median income of $88,494 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 46 in South Carolina.
| Household income | Charleston County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.0% | -6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.2% | +8.3 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 45% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.3% of Charleston County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Charleston County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 17% locally and 12% for South Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 69% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Charleston County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% | -6.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Charleston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Charleston County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 96% of Charleston County residents live in one of the 16. Kiawah Island has the highest median household income on the list ($213,594) and North Charleston the lowest ($62,956), counting places with at least 500 residents. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Charleston County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | city | 154,338 | $92,414 | $1,722 | 3 mi |
| North Charleston | city | 119,913 | $62,956 | $1,430 | 11 mi |
| Mount Pleasant | town | 93,993 | $124,755 | $2,159 | 5 mi |
| James Island | town | 12,198 | $104,217 | $1,695 | 4 mi |
| Hollywood | town | 5,382 | $73,693 | $1,625 | 15 mi |
| Isle of Palms | city | 4,362 | $156,979 | $2,893 | 11 mi |
| Ravenel | town | 2,615 | $82,738 | $1,115 | 17 mi |
| Kiawah Island | town | 2,326 | $213,594 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Seabrook Island | town | 2,204 | $127,500 | $3,501 | 21 mi |
| Sullivan's Island | town | 2,087 | $192,813 | $2,375 | 7 mi |
| Awendaw | town | 1,772 | $77,010 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Meggett | town | 1,307 | $97,865 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Folly Beach | city | 1,267 | $102,279 | $1,844 | 9 mi |
| McClellanville | town | 690 | $107,083 | $1,563 | 34 mi |
Charleston County and the counties next door
Berkeley County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Williamsburg County, is 59 miles off. Beaufort County leads the group on income ($86,573), Williamsburg County trails ($46,213), and Charleston County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | - | $88,494 | $1,620/mo | 64% |
| Berkeley County, SC | 28 mi | $84,358 | $1,654/mo | 75% |
| Dorchester County, SC | 33 mi | $78,198 | $1,463/mo | 76% |
| Colleton County, SC | 42 mi | $51,114 | $949/mo | 73% |
| Beaufort County, SC | 53 mi | $86,573 | $1,653/mo | 76% |
| Georgetown County, SC | 57 mi | $68,713 | $1,204/mo | 84% |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 59 mi | $46,213 | $765/mo | 76% |
Debt-to-income at Charleston County's medians
Charleston County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,374 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,620, takes 22% of that
- $1,551: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,620, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Charleston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
50% of Charleston County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Charleston County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 50.3% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Before borrowing in Charleston County
What the Charleston County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 45% of Charleston County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Charleston County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Licensing and complaints for Charleston County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Charleston County resident can confirm its license with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
A Charleston County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Charleston County residents:
- Price the Charleston County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Charleston County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Charleston County household make?
About $88,494 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% above the South Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Charleston County?
$1,620 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
I live in a small Charleston County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Hollywood and 11 more.
Can Charleston County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Charleston County residents?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in South Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.