Charleston, South Carolina
Among the top 3% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 18% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 82% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 37% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 97% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 39% of US places
- top 2% for airport distance
- top 8% for comfortable days
- bottom 5% for summer humidity
Charleston is a city in South Carolina with about 150,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include airport distance, comfortable days, and property tax rate. It rates lower on cost of living and summer humidity.
Official websitecharleston-sc.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
71%59%clearovercast
Precipitation 6.3 in3.4 in
oppressive 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$84k75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$62kbetter than 9% of US places
Home Value$439k88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$2kbetter than 16% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 17% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.45%better than 91% of US places
Income Tax6.40%better than 26% of US places
Sales Tax7.50%better than 45% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.25%better than 34% of US places
Unemployment3.7%better than 52% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)50°F89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)82°F86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation52.2 in85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall0.3 inbetter than 84% of US places
Sunny Days241 daysbetter than 60% of US places
Summer Humidity73°Fbetter than 5% of US places
Comfortable Days114 daysbetter than 92% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk81.5better than 24% of US places
Air Quality39 AQIbetter than 79% of US places
School Quality78.4better than 74% of US places
Violent Crime1253/100kbetter than 25% of US places
Property Crime1892/100kbetter than 22% of US places
Community
Population149,96099th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age36.328th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4276th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9031st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1319th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)71.6%32nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)18.1%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.8%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.1%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 69% of US places
Walkability11.3/20better than 90% of US places
Airport Distance6 mibetter than 98% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.1%better than 61% of US places
Amenities Nearby44.28better than 37% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 40% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Charleston an affordable place to live?
- Charleston is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $62k, better than 9% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Charleston?
- The median home value in Charleston is $439k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Charleston?
- Median household income in Charleston is $84k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Charleston?
- Median gross rent in Charleston is $2k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Charleston safe?
- Charleston is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1253/100k (better than 25%). Property crime is 1892/100k.
- What is the weather like in Charleston?
- Charleston averages 82°F in July and 50°F in January, with 52.2 in of annual precipitation and about 241 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Charleston?
- Public-school quality in Charleston is above average, scoring better than 74% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Charleston?
- The average one-way commute in Charleston is 23 min.
Other places in Charleston County
Places near Charleston
Compare Charleston
Explore South Carolina
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)