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SC area data

Charleston, SC

Aggregated across 10 ZIP codes in Charleston.

Population: 232,125 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Charleston, SC is $621,263 — up 0.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $771,248 after a median 87 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,266/month. 55 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with coastalflooding, hurricane, earthquake the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 8.9% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$621,263

Median home value

+0.7%

1-year change

87

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$621,263
1-year appreciation
+0.7%
3-year appreciation
+10.3%
5-year appreciation
+39.0%
10-year appreciation
+105.4%
All-time peak (2026-03)
$627,171
House Price Index (state)
444.0 (+2.0% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$771,248
Median list price
$835,226
Median price per sqft
$409
1-year sale-price change
+17.0%
Median days on market
87 days
Homes sold (recent period)
62
For-sale inventory
1,637
Sale-to-list ratio
98.0%
Active listings
86
1-year forecast
+1.7%
New listings (monthly)
367

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,266/mo
1-year rent change
+3.0%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,742/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,823/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,998/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,486/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,867/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
91.1 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
15.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.90/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
55
Elementary schools
30
Middle schools
8
High schools
16
Charter schools
11
School districts serving the area
Charleston 01, SC Public Charter School District, Dorchester 02
Schools include
Memminger Elementary, Buist Academy, Mitchell Elementary, Sanders-Clyde Elementary, James Simons Montessori

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
coastalFlooding, hurricane, earthquake, iceStorm, lightning, coldWave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Very High · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
includes AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 88% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
51.9%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
2
Nearest Superfund site
Koppers Co., Inc. (Charleston Plant) (1.4 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
67.3°F
Average high
76.0°F
Average low
58.5°F
Annual precipitation
53.2 in
Annual snowfall
0.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
9a (extreme annual low 20 to 25°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
46
Days with Good air quality
225
Days with Moderate air quality
141
Highest AQI recorded (year)
89

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
14.1 / 20
Transit service frequency
-24,667
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
64,097
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
46,351

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
30
Nearest national park
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (2 mi)
National parks include
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
127
Nearest airport
Charleston Executive Airport (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Charleston International Airport (CHS) (3 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
6
Hospitals include
ROPER HOSPITAL, CHARLESTON VA MEDICAL CENTER, BON SECOURS-ST FRANCIS XAVIER HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.2 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.9 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
19
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.7 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+1,040 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,977
Housing built before 1970
48.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
24.1%
Median annual property tax
$2,346
Mean commute to work
19 min
Households with broadband internet
81.2%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
226,174
Average weekly wage
$1,226
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
1,426

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

CharlestonState medianUS median
Median home value$621,263$229,480$289,727
Median sale price$771,248$290,675$325,000
Median days on market87 days80 days51 days
Typical rent$2,266/mo$1,650/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$2,346$845$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Charleston, SC?
$621,263.
What is the median sale price in Charleston, SC?
$771,248.
How long do homes take to sell in Charleston, SC?
Median days on market: 87 days.
What is typical rent in Charleston, SC?
Typical rent: $2,266/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Charleston, SC?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coastalFlooding, hurricane, earthquake, iceStorm, lightning, coldWave.
Is Charleston, SC in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone AE; zones vary by location within the city.
What is the wildfire risk in Charleston, SC?
Risk to homes is higher than 88% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Charleston, SC?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Charleston, SC?
2 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Koppers Co., Inc. (Charleston Plant), 1.4 mi.
How many schools serve Charleston, SC?
55 schools (30 elementary, 8 middle, 16 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Charleston, SC walkable?
Walkability index: 14.1/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Charleston, SC?
Good. Median AQI: 46. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Charleston, SC?
Regional Price Parity: 91.1 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Charleston

Selling a home in Charleston, SC?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents