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METRO AREA

Charleston Metro

Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 3 counties · 889,263 residents (2025 est.) · 2,590.18 sq mi
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#34Fastest growingof 918+20.3%
The short version

Charleston has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $85,207. The metro area has grown rapidly, with population up 52% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $404,179. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 115%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
834,267
+52%since 2000
from 549,033 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
322 / sq mi
+52%since 2000
from 212 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.3
+13%since 2000
from 33.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:889,263 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
474K572K671K769K867K1990201020202024Charleston
2024834K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,207
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,322 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,581
+146%since 2000
from $19,772 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.2%
+25.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+3%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$404,179
+115%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,401 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,599
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $587 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
30.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.1%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.1%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 42.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+80%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
91
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charleston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64%(351,434)
Black30.6%(168,143)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(13,091)
Asian1.3%(7,123)
Other0%
Diversity Score59.8%(328,277)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.4%(520,520)
Black23.1%(192,815)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(64,788)
Asian2.1%(17,148)
Other4.7%(38,996)
Diversity Score68.6%(572,165)
Segregation Score34.6%(288,577)
Diversity Score
69
+15%since 2000
from 60 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−4%since 2020
from 36 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.5%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 24.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.7 min
+72%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.0%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.8%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.1%
−19.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.2%
−37.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.9%
−74.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+13.4 ptssince 2017
from 76.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 4.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

CharlestonCENTRAL159,423North CharlestonCENTRAL129,245
What's inside

3 component counties

Charleston CountyCENTRAL436,200Berkeley CountyCENTRAL274,666Dorchester CountyCENTRAL178,397
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Charleston

Allentown
Pop 887,615
Boise City
Pop 864,243
Albany
Pop 915,835
Omaha
Pop 1,009,836
Places similar to Charleston
Head to head

Compare Charleston side by side

CHARLESTON VS
Allentown
Income$85,100same
Home value$302,579−25%
Population887,615same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Boise City
Income$85,629same
Home value$469,641+16%
Population864,243−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Albany
Income$88,339+4%
Home value$288,584−29%
Population915,835+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Omaha
Income$85,433same
Home value$267,787−34%
Population1,009,836+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

Charleston-North Charleston, SC has about 834,267 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

The typical household in Charleston-North Charleston, SC earns about $85,207 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charleston-North Charleston, SC expensive?

In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, the median home is worth about $404,179, and the typical rent is about $1,599 a month.

How educated are people in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

About 40.5% of adults age 25 and over in Charleston-North Charleston, SC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

About 10.9% of people in Charleston-North Charleston, SC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charleston-North Charleston, SC grown since 1990?

Yes, Charleston-North Charleston, SC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 327,392 residents, a change of about 65 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →