Charleston County, SC Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 424,576 | 5,341,662 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 312.8 | 166.9 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.28% | 1.07% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 175,569 | 2,071,127 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Charleston County grew by 18.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 414,229 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Charleston County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $84,363 | $66,957 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.15% | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Charleston County is about 26% higher than in South Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $486,306 | $224,357 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,506 | $1,126 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.5% | 71.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Charleston County is about 26.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,506 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Charleston County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 184 hours, about 7.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.1 | 22.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.2 | 44.4 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 184 | 185 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,715 | $5,740 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 16,714 | 9,507 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,219 | 1,499 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Carolina:
Greenwood County (16.5 min), Sumter County (18.1 min), Florence County (18.4 min).
Slowest:
McCormick County (33.3 min), Fairfield County (31.2 min), Allendale County (30.5 min).
The average commute time in Charleston County is about the same as in South Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Charleston County has a education index of A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.1% | 28.2% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.30 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Carolina:
Charleston County (0.4), Beaufort County (0.3), Richland County (0.3).
Lowest:
Allendale County (0.1), Marlboro County (0.2), Chesterfield County (0.2).
Health
Charleston County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.6 | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.9% | 19.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.8% | 21.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Carolina:
Beaufort County (0.8), Charleston County (0.8), Dorchester County (0.8).
Lowest:
Dillon County (0.8), Allendale County (0.8), Marlboro County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Charleston County, South Carolina.
What is the population of Charleston County, South Carolina?
The population of Charleston County, South Carolina is 424,576, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Charleston County, South Carolina?
The population density of Charleston County, South Carolina is 312.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina is $84,363, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The median home price in Charleston County, South Carolina is $486,306, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The unemployment rate in Charleston County, South Carolina is 3.5%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.