Charleston SC
South Carolina · Pop. 154,338
Charleston, SC: median household income of $92,414, median rent of $1,722/mo, 3.4% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$92,414
per year
Median Rent
$1,722
per month
Median Home
$510k
home value
Unemployment
3.4%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
12.3%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
24 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Charleston, SC Reality Check"
In Charleston, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $92,414 and median rent is $1,722/month. 52% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $509,700 — that's 5.5× the median income. 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 3.38% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 12.3%. Average commute: 24 minutes — acceptable. Charleston was founded in 1670 — that's 356 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 109.0 sq miles at 1,416 people/sq mile — sprawling. Elevation: 20 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. RoastMyCity overall score: 67/100 — It Depends.