Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $486,306 | $224,357 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 13.2% | 9.2% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,506 | $1,126 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 5.6% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Charleston County is about 117% higher than in South Carolina. Rent is about 34% higher than the South Carolina average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in Charleston County, up about 13.2% and 5.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Charleston County rose about 52.0% between 2015 and 2023, from $991 to $1,506. Over the same span, rent in South Carolina rose about 42.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 5.8 yearly household incomes in Charleston County.
Buying the median-priced home in Charleston County costs roughly 26.9 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 County. The price-to-rent ratio in South Carolina is about 16.6.
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $486,306 | $224,357 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $84,363 | $66,957 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 5.8 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in Charleston County rose about 144.8%, while median household income rose about 76.1% between 2009 and 2023 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 61.6% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 31.0% | 24.6% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 14.9% | 13.8% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 13.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2013 | 2011 | 2011 |
Charleston County has a homeownership rate of 54.0%, lower than the South Carolina average of 61.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 14.9%, compared with 13.8% in South Carolina.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.30 people | 2.45 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1987 | 1989 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Charleston County was built around 1987. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.6 rooms, staying for about 13.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Charleston County, South Carolina.
What is the median home price in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The median home price in Charleston County, South Carolina is $486,306, higher than the South Carolina average of $224,357.
What is the average home price in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. 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 County, South Carolina?
The median gross rent in Charleston County, South Carolina is $1,506 per month, higher than the South Carolina average of $1,126.
What was the median gross rent in Charleston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Charleston County, South Carolina was $1,227 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The price-to-rent ratio in Charleston County, South Carolina is about 26.9, meaning it would take roughly 26.9 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 County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Charleston County, South Carolina?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Charleston County, up about 13.2% and 5.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Charleston County, South Carolina?
54.0% of households in Charleston County, South Carolina own their home, lower than the South Carolina average of 61.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The housing vacancy rate in Charleston County, South Carolina is 14.9%, higher than the South Carolina average of 13.8%.