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).
$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)
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
| Charleston | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $621,263 | $229,480 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $771,248 | $290,675 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 87 days | 80 days | 51 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?
REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →