Charleston, South Carolina Housing Market Prices
Charleston Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 77% above the South Carolina median$424,827
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Median rent 46% above the South Carolina median$1,717
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $424,827 | $239,609 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.6% | 8.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,717 | $1,179 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 6.3% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Charleston is about 77% higher than in South Carolina. Rent is about 46% higher than the South Carolina average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Charleston, up about 7.6% and 6.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Charleston rose about 68.8% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,017 to $1,717. Over the same span, rent in South Carolina rose about 49.3%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 4.6 yearly household incomes in Charleston.
Buying the median-priced home in Charleston costs roughly 20.6 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Charleston. The price-to-rent ratio in South Carolina is about 16.9.
| Metric | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $424,827 | $239,609 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $92,795 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.6 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Charleston rose about 92.4%, while median household income rose about 91.5% between 2009 and 2025 — keeping pace with each other.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 51.5% | 62.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 35.8% | 24.4% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 12.7% | 13.3% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 10.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 |
Charleston has a homeownership rate of 51.5%, lower than the South Carolina average of 62.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 12.7%, compared with 13.3% in South Carolina.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Charleston | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.18 people | 2.44 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1986 | 1990 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Charleston was built around 1986. On average, 2.2 people live in a home with about 5.5 rooms, staying for about 10.0 years on average.
Charleston, SC Housing Compared With Nearby Cities
How Charleston, SC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 138,300 | $424,827 #1/3 | $1,717 #1/3 | 59.0% #2/3 |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,136 | $259,261 | $1,382 | 66.3% |
| North Charleston, SC | 123,884 | $282,140 | $1,419 | 51.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Charleston, South Carolina.
What is the median home price in Charleston, South Carolina?
The median home price in Charleston, South Carolina is $424,827, higher than the South Carolina average of $239,609.
What is the average home price in Charleston, South Carolina?
The typical home price in Charleston, South Carolina, reported as the median sale price, is $424,827. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Charleston, South Carolina?
The median gross rent in Charleston, South Carolina is $1,717 per month, higher than the South Carolina average of $1,179.
What was the median gross rent in Charleston in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Charleston, South Carolina was $1,295 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Charleston, South Carolina?
The price-to-rent ratio in Charleston, South Carolina is about 20.6, meaning it would take roughly 20.6 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Charleston.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Charleston, South Carolina?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Charleston, up about 7.6% and 6.3% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Charleston, South Carolina?
51.5% of households in Charleston, South Carolina own their home, lower than the South Carolina average of 62.3%.
What is the vacancy rate in Charleston, South Carolina?
The housing vacancy rate in Charleston, South Carolina is 12.7%, lower than the South Carolina average of 13.3%.
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