Living in Charleston, SC
Small city in South Carolina
Charleston is a small city in South Carolina, home to about 152,000 people, with 563,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Historic, walkable and coastal, with beaches and great food. Hot, humid summers, hurricane season and rising prices.
Is Charleston a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Low taxes: about $1,296 state income tax per resident, 0.46% property tax
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Dog-friendly: 52 dog parks within 9 mi
- Easy flying: CHS is 6 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 563,000 people live within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Charleston ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Charleston: common questions
What is the cost of living in Charleston?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $530k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,220 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 101, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Charleston?
South Carolina collects about $1,296 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.46% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Charleston safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Charleston?
Charleston has mild winters: winter days average around 60°F and summer days around 86°F.
Does Charleston get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from hurricanes and earthquakes: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.75 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Charleston?
The nearest major airport is CHS, about 6 mi away.
How Charleston scores
Each bar compares Charleston with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
Places like Charleston
These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.
Nearby
See all the best places to live in South Carolina.
Is Charleston right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.