Charleston, SC — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 152,014 · South Carolina · Updated May 2026
Population
152,014
Median Income
$90,038
Home Price
$593,739
Unemployment
3.4%
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Bachelor's+
57.7%
Full Demographics — Charleston, SC
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,014 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 5.4% | 13.8% | |
| White | 72.9% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 17.4% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 2.2% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 5.9% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $90,038 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $58,583 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $54,550 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 12.0% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 57.7% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $593,739 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 28.7% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.5% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.1% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 8.7% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 22.9% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 9.5% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 65.9°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 51.0 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Charleston, SC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.4 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Charleston with Another City
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About Charleston, SC
Charleston is a city in South Carolina, United States. With a population of 152,014, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Charleston shows stronger educational attainment (57.7% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and household income ($90,038 median HH income vs $74,580 median HH income US avg). Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.