Charleston, SC Demographics

What is the population of Charleston?

There are 152,014 residents in Charleston, with a median age of 36. Of this, 47.55% are males and 52.45% are females. US-born citizens make up 92.89% of the resident pool in Charleston, while non-US-born citizens account for 4.54%. Additionally, 2.57% of the population is represented by non-citizens. A total of 121,715 people in Charleston currently live in the same house as they did last year.
Y-o-Y Change
Total Population 152,014 1.4%
Male Population 72,280 1.5%
Female Population 79,734 1.2%
Male Population 47.55%
Female Population 52.45%
Y-o-Y Change
Median Age 36 -0.8%
Citizen U.S. Born 141,212 1.1%
Citizen not U.S. Born 6,897 1.8%
Not Citizen 3,905 10.4%
Citizen U.S. Born 92.89%
Citizen not U.S. Born 4.54%
Not Citizen 2.57%
Y-o-Y Change
Moved from Abroad 1,031 35.7%
Moved from Same County 12,387 5.5%
Moved from Same State 5,283 -5.2%
Moved from Different State 10,197 6.4%
Same House as Last Year 121,715 0.8%
Moved from Abroad 0.68%
Moved from Same County 8.22%
Moved from Same State 3.51%
Moved from Different State 6.77%
Same House as Last Year 80.81%

What are the employment statistics in Charleston?

White-collar workers make up 87.74% of the working population in Charleston, while blue-collar employees account for 12.26%. There are also 19,090 entrepreneurs in Charleston (11.53% of the workforce); 107,248 workers employed in private companies (64.76%); and 27,302 people working in governmental institutions (16.48%).
Y-o-Y Change
White Collar 145,318 102.0%
Blue Collar 20,300 108.3%
White Collar 87.74%
Blue Collar 12.26%
Y-o-Y Change
Self Employees 19,090 95.7%
Private Companies 107,248 103.7%
Governmental Workers 27,302 98.4%
Not for Profit Companies 11,978 117.4%
Self Employees 11.53%
Private Companies 64.76%
Governmental Workers 16.48%
Not for Profit Companies 7.23%

How many households are there in Charleston?

There are a total of 66,408 households in Charleston, each made up of around 2 members. Family establishments represent 51.65% of these Charleston households, while non-family units account for the remaining 48.35%. Additionally, 20.97% of households have children and 79.03% of households are without children.
Y-o-Y Change
Total households 66,408 1.9%
Average People per Household 2 -9.5%
Family Households 34,298 1.4%
Non-Family Households 32,110 2.4%
Family Households 51.65%
Non-Family Households 48.35%
Y-o-Y Change
Households with Children 13,925 1.8%
Households without Children 52,483 1.9%
Households with Children 20.97%
Households without Children 79.03%

What are the median and average incomes in Charleston?

The average annual household income in Charleston is $129,666, while the median household income sits at $90,038 per year. Residents aged 25 to 44 earn $98,325, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $111,555. In contrast, people younger than 25 and those older than 65 earn less, at $39,213 and $73,368, respectively.
Y-o-Y Change
Average Household Income $129,666 4.9%
Median Household Income $90,038 7.3%
People below Poverty Level 17,238 -4.2%
People above Poverty Level 127,481 2.3%

How many homeowners and renters are there in Charleston?

There are 75,826 housing units in Charleston, and the median year in which these properties were built is 1994. Of the 66,408 occupied housing units in Charleston, 55.61% are owner-occupied, while 44.39% have renters living in them. Meanwhile, properties bought with mortgages account for 70.06% of the units, and the median value of a home with a mortgage is $471,800. In general, housing costs reach $1,688 per month in Charleston.
Y-o-Y Change
Housing Units 75,826 1.4%
Median Year Built 1994 0.1%
Built in 1939 or Earlier 8,158 -5.5%
Built between 1940 and 1949 2,291 6.6%
Built between 1950 and 1959 4,213 5.6%
Built between 1960 and 1969 6,196 -4.6%
Built between 1970 and 1979 5,697 -3.3%
Built between 1980 and 1989 7,964 -6.9%
Built between 1990 and 1999 7,635 0.6%
Built between 2000 and 2009 14,480 -3.8%
Built between 2010 and 2019 17,221 10.7%
Built in 2020 or Later 1,971 124.5%
Y-o-Y Change
Occupied Housing Units 66,408 1.9%
Owner Occupied 36,929 1.9%
Renter Occupied 29,479 1.8%
Owner Occupied 55.61%
Renter Occupied 44.39%
Y-o-Y Change
With Mortgage 25,872 3.0%
Without Mortgage 11,057 -0.7%
Median Value with Mortgage $471,800 8.4%
Median Value without Mortgage $460,900 2.7%
Median Housing Costs per Month $1,688 5.4%
With Mortgage 70.06%
Without Mortgage 29.94%

What is the level of education in Charleston?

Approximately 18.8% of the population in Charleston holds a high school degree (that's 23,570 residents), while 21.03% have attained a college certificate (26,367 locals) and 33.52% have a bachelor's degree (42,040 people).
Y-o-Y Change
No High School 1,374 20.5%
Some High School 23,570 -1.2%
Some College 26,367 7.5%
Associate Degree 7,681 -2.8%
Bachelor's Degree 42,040 0.9%
Graduate Degree 24,371 1.1%
No High School 1.1%
Some High School 18.8%
Some College 21.03%
Associate Degree 6.13%
Bachelor's Degree 33.52%
Graduate Degree 19.43%

What is the marital status of Charleston residents?

A total of 51,076 people in Charleston have never been married (which represents 39.36% of the total population), while 59,544 of them are wedded (45.89%). Separated and divorced residents are in smaller numbers, at 2,092 (1.61%) and 12,964 (9.99%), respectively.
Y-o-Y Change
Never Married 51,076 -1.1%
Married 59,544 2.6%
Separated 2,092 9.2%
Widowed 6,174 0.0%
Divorced 12,964 -1.3%
Never Married 39.36%
Married 45.89%
Separated 1.61%
Widowed 4.76%
Divorced 9.99%

What are the most common means of transportation in Charleston?

The top three means of transportation people in Charleston use to get to work are: car, walking and bicycle. A total of 61,767 residents commute by car, 3,431 prefer going to work by walking and 1,267 by bicycle
Y-o-Y Change
Car 61,767 -2.2%
Bus or TrolleyBus 720 17.6%
Subway or Elevated 14 N/A
Bicycle 1,267 -8.2%
Motorcycle 88 -1.1%
TaxiCab 154 8.4%
Walk 3,431 -3.0%

What is the median and average household income in Charleston by zipcode?

ZipCode Population Number of Households Median Income Average Income
29492 19,753 9,056 $115,605 $181,832
29401 9,210 4,087 $90,074 $189,416
29403 22,319 10,398 $65,689 $101,765
29407 36,640 16,874 $80,568 $124,696
29409 2,328 24 $0 $0
29412 40,495 16,769 $99,443 $132,101
29414 43,717 19,098 $91,976 $113,894
29424 1,219 64 $0 $0
29455 26,308 11,616 $117,422 $171,102

Methodology & Disclaimers

Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest U.S. Census Bureau release, the 2023 American Community Survey. The information is updated yearly, as soon as new data is made available by the US Census Bureau.
No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information modified or aggregated for specific neighborhoods and/or zip codes.