CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Charleston Metro

Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 3 counties · 799,636 residents · 2,590.18 sq mi
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The short version

Charleston has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $65,938. Population has grown 46% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $270,567.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.8
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
799,636
+46%since 2000
from 549,033 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
309 / sq mi
+46%since 2000
from 212 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.8
+11%since 2000
from 33.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
474K572K671K769K867K1990201020202024Charleston
2024834K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,938
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,322 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,868
+86%since 2000
from $19,772 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
44.0%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$270,567
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,401 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,191
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $587 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
66.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
33.6% rent
Afford Score
4.1
+56%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic62.6%(500,545)
Black22.7%(181,808)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(60,469)
Asian2%(16,100)
Other3.5%(28,291)
Diversity Score66.8%(534,510)
Segregation Score36%(288,178)
Diversity Score
67
+12%since 2000
from 60 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
36
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 24.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.8%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
12.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+65%since 2000
from 16.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 66.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
40.5%
−23.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.4%
−73.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$85,100+29%
Home value$302,579+12%
Population887,615same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Boise City
Income$85,629+30%
Home value$469,641+74%
Population864,243−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Albany
Income$88,339+34%
Home value$288,584+7%
Population915,835+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHARLESTON VS
Omaha
Income$85,433+30%
Home value$267,787−1%
Population1,009,836+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Charleston-North Charleston, SC has about 799,636 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Charleston-North Charleston, SC earns about $65,938 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 $270,567, and the typical rent is about $1,191 a month.

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

About 36.1% 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 12.4% 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 292,761 residents, a change of about 58 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 →