Moving to Charleston, South Carolina

by btobers · Published June 28, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Population: 96,650. Estimated population in July 2024: 106,712 (+10.4% change)
Males: 45,758 (47.3%), Females: 50,892 (52.7%)

Zip codes: 29401, 29403, 29406, 29407, 29412, 29414, 29423, 29492.

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.2 years
Median household income: $35,295
Median house value: $139,700

Population by Race

Races in Charleston:

White Non-Hispanic (62.3%)
Black (34.0%)
Hispanic (1.5%)
Two or more races (0.9%)
Other race (0.5%)

Ancestries: English (10.8%), German (10.6%), Irish (9.1%), United States (6.2%), Scottish (3.3%), Italian (3.2%).

Elevation: 118 feet

Land area: 97.0 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Charleston

High school or higher: 83.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 13.9%
Unemployed: 6.6%
Mean travel time to work: 20.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Charleston city

Never married: 40.2%
Now married: 40.0%
Separated: 3.2%
Widowed: 7.9%
Divorced: 8.8%

3.5% Foreign born (1.4% Europe, 1.1% Asia, 0.6% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +6,355 (+7.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Charleston:

BON SECOURS-ST FRANCIS XAVIER HOSPITAL (2095 HENRY TECKLENBURG DRIVE)
CHARLESTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (326 CALHOUN ST)
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (169 ASHLEY AV)
PALMETTO LOWCOUNTRY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (2777 SPEISSEGGER DRIVE)
ROPER HOSPITAL (316 CALHOUN ST)
SPECIALTY HOSPITAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA (326 CALHOUN STREET THIRD FLOOR)
TRIDENT MEDICAL CENTER (9330 MEDICAL PLAZA DR)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Charleston:

CHARLESTON AFB/INTL (about 8 miles; CHARLESTON, SC; Abbreviation: CHS)
BEAUFORT MCAS /MERRITT FIELD/ (about 56 miles; BEAUFORT, SC; Abbreviation: NBC)
HILTON HEAD (about 63 miles; HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC; Abbreviation: HXD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Charleston:

CHARLESTON EXECUTIVE (about 7 miles; CHARLESTON, SC; Abbreviation: JZI)
EAST COOPER (about 17 miles; MOUNT PLEASANT, SC; Abbreviation: 8S5)
SUMMERVILLE (about 27 miles; SUMMERVILLE, SC; Abbreviation: DYB)

Amtrak station near Charleston:

6 miles: CHARLESTON (N. CHARLESTON, 4565 GAYNOR AVE.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Charleston:

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (Full-time enrollment: 9,756; Location: 66 GEORGE ST; Public; Website: www.cofc.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 5,925; Location: 7000 Rivers Avenue; Public; Website: www.tridenttech.org)
CITADEL MILITARY COLLEGE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (Full-time enrollment: 2,701; Location: 171 MOULTRIE ST; Public; Website: www.citadel.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 2,191; Location: 9200 UNIVERSITY BLVD; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.csuniv.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (Full-time enrollment: 2,162; Location: 171 ASHLEY AVE; Public; Website: www.musc.edu; Offers Doctor’s degree)
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY-CHARLESTON (Full-time enrollment: 1,335; Location: 701 EAST BAY ST; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.jwusc.edu)
BETA TECH (Full-time enrollment: 130; Location: 8088 RIVERS AVE; Private, not-for-profit)
CHARLESTON COSMETOLOGY INSTITUTE (Full-time enrollment: 105; Location: 8484 DORCHESTER RD; Private, for-profit)

Schools

Public high schools in Charleston:

WEST ASHLEY HIGH (Students: 2,191; Location: WILLIAM KENNERTY DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)
JAMES ISLAND CHARTER HIGH (Students: 1,550; Location: 1000 FORT JOHNSON ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
BURKE HIGH (Students: 701; Location: 244 PRESIDENT ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
SEPTIMA P. CLARK CORPORATE ACADEMY (Students: 114; Location: 1929 GRIMBALL ROAD; Grades: 08 – 12)

Private high schools in Charleston:

BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 892; Location: 363 SEVEN FARMS DR; Grades: 9 – 12)
PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL (Students: 838; Location: 300 ALBEMARLE POINT; Grades: 1 – 12)
ASHLEY HALL (Students: 621; Location: 172 RUTLEDGE AVENUE; Grades: PK – 12)
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SCH (Students: 577; Location: 48 MEETING STREET; Grades: PK – 12)
NORTHWOOD ACADEMY (Students: 238; Location: PO BOX 63215; Grades: 7 – 12)
EVANGEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 142; Location: 2957 SAVANNAH HIGHWAY; Grades: PK – 12)
PALMETTO ACADEMY (Students: 19; Location: 913 WAPPOO RD; Grades: 9 – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Charleston:

SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY (Students: 926; Location: 2741 CLOVER STREET; Grades: PK – 06)
WEST ASHLEY MIDDLE (Students: 802; Location: 776 WILLIAM KENNERTY DRI; Grades: 07 – 08)
WEST ASHLEY INTERMEDIATE (Students: 762; Location: 721 WAPPOO ROAD; Grades: 05 – 06)
ORANGE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 751; Location: 1225 ORANGE BRANCH; Grades: PK – 04)
JAMES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 733; Location: 1484 CAMP ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
C E WILLIAMS MIDDLE FOR CREATIVE & SCIEN (Students: 688; Location: 640 BUTTE STREET; Grades: 05 – 08)
ST ANDREWS SCHOOL OF MATH AND SCIENCE (Students: 687; Location: 30 CHADWICK DRIVE; Grades: PK – 05)
ALICE BIRNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 635; Location: 7750 PINEHURST ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
STILES POINT ELEMENTARY (Students: 600; Location: 883 MIKELL DR; Grades: PK – 05)
HARBOR VIEW ELEMENTARY (Students: 588; Location: 1576 HARBOR VIEW RD; Grades: PK – 05)

Biggest private primary/middle schools in Charleston:

NORTHWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 546; Location: 8717 RIVERS AVE; Grades: PK – 6)
BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL (Students: 484; Location: 7 SAINT TERESA DRIVE; Grades: PK – 8)
MASON PREPARATORY SCHOOL (Students: 355; Location: 56 HALSEY BOULEVARD; Grades: 1 – 8)
O QUINN SCHOOL (Students: 316; Location: 1567 HARBOR VIEW RD; Grades: PK – KG)
NATIVITY ELEM SCH (Students: 311; Location: 1061 FOLLY ROAD; Grades: PK – 8)
THE CHARLESTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 212; Location: 888 KING ST; Grades: PK – 8)
CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL (Students: 186; Location: 15 ARCHDALE STREET; Grades: 1 – 8)
JAMES ISLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 162; Location: 15 CROSSCREEK DRIVE; Grades: KG – 4)
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN PRESC (Students: 155; Location: 1157 SAM RITTENBERG BLVD; Grades: PK – KG)
NEW ISREAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 148; Location: 69 SIMONS ST; Grades: KG – 8)

Libraries

Library in Charleston:

CHARLESTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $11,176,176; Location: 68 CALHOUN STREET; 1,038,980 books; 24,868 audio materials; 37,391 video materials; 2,320 serial subscriptions)