Charleston, SC City Data

Charleston, SC is a city with great restaurants, attractions, history and people. There are around 96,650 people who live in Charleston and approximately 309,969 who live in Charleston County. We want to help people moving to or living in Charleston to understand the dynamics of the city, so we have put together information gathered from various creditable sources to give you a better understanding of Charleston. We have included Charleston housing information, demographics, social and education characteristics, and even economic information.

General Charleston Information

Charleston County where Charleston resides is 1,358.11 square miles. The resident population of this county is 309,969 and has a population rank of 184 out of all the places in the United States.

Charleston has a total of 96,650 people and of those residents there are 45,758 males and 50,892 females. The median age of the male population is 31.1 and the female population is 35.2. There are approximately 4,588 births each year and around 2,905 deaths. The race breakdown of the population in Charleston varies per year, but currently 95,743 are one race and 907 are two or more races.

Of the 96,650 people who live in Charleston, there are 24,642 under 20 years old. The sex breakdown of the 20 years old and younger population in Charleston is 12,275 male and 12,367 female. If you have children or you are under the age of 20, then you will be considered in that statistic. For those of you who are older, then you will be part of the population that is 18 years and older and totals 77,333.

General Charleston Information
Total area in square miles - Charleston County	1,358.11
Water area in square miles - Charleston County	N/A
Resident population - Charleston County	309,969
Population rank - Charleston County	184
Total population	96,650
Total population (male)	45,758
Total population (female)	50,892
Population median age (male)	31.1
Population median age (female)	35.2
Births - Charleston County	4,588
Deaths- Charleston County	2,905
Population of one race	95,743
Population of two or more races	907
Population under 20 years	24,642
Population under 20 years (male)	12,275
Population under 20 years (female)	12,367
Total population 18 years and over	77,333

Charleston Social Characteristics

There are 123,326 households in Charleston. Families make up 77,744 of these households. The table below breaks down the Charleston families into three different groups. Married-couple families (53,230), male householder with no wife present (4,509) and female householder with no husband present (18,792). The remainder of the Charleston households are made up of nonfamily households, which total 45,910. Charleston, SC moving companies help people in Charleston move locally and all around the world.

For years, the US has been building stats on the relationship of males and females 15 years and older in cities around the country including Charleston. This information helps individuals analyze the area they are living in or moving to. For the county where Charleston is based, there are 130,127 females 15 and over; of those females there are 38,670 never married, 58,403 now married, 5,193 separated, 13,746 widowed, and 14,115 divorced. As for the males, there are N/A males 15 and older: N/A never married, N/A now married, 3,165 separated, 3,555 widowed and 9,624 never married. There is a lot of great information below regarding Charleston social characteristics. Be sure to review the tables for more information on Charleston.

If you are moving to or from Charleston and need a place to store your things be sure to check out the MovingIdeas.org Charleston, SC self storage quote page or storage guides.

HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE (Charleston County)
Total households	123,326
Family households (families)	77,744
With own children under 18 years	39,902
Married-couple family	53,230
With own children under 18 years	23,164
Male householder, no wife present, family	4,509
With own children under 18 years	1,975
Female householder, no husband present, family	18,792
With own children under 18 years	11,305
Nonfamily households	45,910
Householder living alone	34,880
65 years and over	10,016

GENERAL HOUSEHOLDS
Households with one or more people under 18 years	10,872
Households with one or more people 65 years and over	9,523
Average household size	2.23
Average family size	2.92

RELATIONSHIP FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
Population in family households	65,880
Householder	22,159
Spouse	14,676
Child	22,319
Other relatives	1,187
Nonrelatives	1,197
Unmarried partner	535
Roomer or boarder	170
Housemate or roommate	241
Unmarried partner	1,903
Foster child	49
Other	202

RELATIONSHIP NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
Population in nonfamily households	25,260
Male householder	8,184
Male householder living alone	5,667
Male householder not living alone	2,517
Female householder	10,448
Female householder living alone	8,073
Female householder not living alone	2,375
Nonrelatives	6,628
Unmarried partner	1,368
Roomer or boarder	638
Housemate or roommate	4,413
Foster child	22
Other	187

RELATIONSHIP BY SEX
Females 15 years and over	130,127
Never married	38,670
Now married	58,403
Separated	5,193
Widowed	13,746
Divorced	14,115
Males 15 years and over	N/A
Never married	N/A
Now married	N/A
Separated	3,165
Widowed	3,555
Divorced	9,624

TOTAL POPULATION BY SEX AND AGE
Total Population	96,650
Male	45,758
Under 5 years	2,637
5 to 9 years	2,720
10 to 14 years	2,838
15 to 17 years	1,546
18 and 19 years	2,534
20 years	1,395
21 years	1,318
22 to 24 years	3,000
25 to 29 years	4,077
30 to 34 years	3,259
35 to 39 years	3,242
40 to 44 years	3,042
45 to 49 years	2,973
50 to 54 years	2,602
55 to 59 years	1,990
60 and 61 years	687
62 to 64 years	879
65 and 66 years	592
67 to 69 years	826
70 to 74 years	1,330
75 to 79 years	1,105
80 to 84 years	740
85 years and over	426
Female	50,892
Under 5 years	2,615
5 to 9 years	2,543
10 to 14 years	2,734
15 to 17 years	1,684
18 and 19 years	2,791
20 years	1,323
21 years	1,166
22 to 24 years	3,072
25 to 29 years	4,038
30 to 34 years	3,351
35 to 39 years	3,451
40 to 44 years	3,407
45 to 49 years	3,389
50 to 54 years	3,005
55 to 59 years	2,407
60 and 61 years	763
62 to 64 years	1,140
65 and 66 years	734
67 to 69 years	1,131
70 to 74 years	1,858
75 to 79 years	1,863
80 to 84 years	1,297
85 years and over	1,130

TOTAL POPULATION BY RACE
Total population	96,650
One race	95,743
White	60,964
Black or African American	32,864
American Indian and Alaska Native	145
Asian	1,197
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	55
Some other race	131
Two or more races	907

RACE POPULATION IN HOUSEHOLDS
Total population in households	91,140
People who are White alone	56,602
People who are Black or African American alone	31,906
People who are American Indian and Alaska Native alone	136
People who are Asian alone	1,132
People who are Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone	53
People who are Hispanic or Latino	1,278
People who are Some other race alone	446

RESIDENCE IN 1995
Population 5 years and over	289,926
Same house	143,686
Different house - same county	N/A
Different county - same state	20,475
Different state or abroad	51,925
Different state	46,007
Abroad	5,918

PLACE OF BIRTH (Charleston County)
Total resident population	309,969
Born in United States	172,139
State of residence	180,348
Different state	115,584
Born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas	2,913
Foreign born	11,124

Charleston Education and School Enrollment

School enrollment refers to students currently attending school, both private and public. By understanding the school enrollment in an area, you can make decisions concerning your kids' environments and even job markets. In a table below, we provide you with the total school enrollment for children 3 years and older in the county surrounding Charleston. That total enrollment is 87,355 for the population of the country, which includes Charleston. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 38,022 and elementary or high school enrollment was 101,587 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 25,682.

Education attainment is defined as "the highest level of education completed in terms of highest degree or the highest level or schooling completed." The table below shows the Charleston population over 25 years old and their level of education achievement.

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Population 3 years and over enrolled in school	87,355
Pre-kindergarten	6,164
Public	3,002
Private	3,162
Kindergarten	4,714
Public	3,692
Private	N/A
Elementary school grades 1 to 8	34,253
Public	29,118
Private	5,135
Elementary and high school	50,794
Public	43,114
Private	7,680
High school grades 9 to 12	16,541
Public	13,996
Private	2,545
College, undergraduate years	20,951
Public	16,354
Private	4,597
Graduate or professional school	4,732
Public	3,773
Private	959
Not enrolled in school	210,304

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Population 25 years and over	199,361
Less than 9th grade	11,774
9th to 12th grade, no diploma	25,078
High school graduate	45,752
Some college, no degree	42,365
Associate's degree	13,139
Bachelor's degree	61,253
Graduate or professional degree	30.7
Percent high school graduate or higher	81.5
Percent bachelor's degree or higher	39,239

Charleston Employment and Labor Characteristics

There are 244,381 people that are employed over the age of 16 in Charleston. The Charleston occupations categories include management, professional and related occupations (51,221), service occupations (25,484), sales and office occupations (37,407), farming, fishing and forestry occupations (662), constructions, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations (13,610) and production, transportation and material moving occupations (14,166). The 244,381 employed over the age of 16 are broken down into the class of worker. There are 103,807 private wage and salary workers, 28,722 government workers, 9,528 self-employed workers and approximately N/A unpaid family workers.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS (Charleston County)
Population 16 years and over	244,381
In labor force	155,555
Civilian labor force	151,568
Employed	142,550
Unemployed	9,018
Percent Unemployed	5.9
Armed Forces	3,987
Females 16 years and over	128,231
In labor force	74,507
Civilian labor force	73,894
Unemployed Civilian labor force	4,401
Armed forces	613
Males 16 years and over	116,150
In labor force	81,048
Civilian labor force	N/A
Unemployed Civilian labor force	4,617
Armed forces	3,374

COMMUTING TO WORK (Charleston County)
Workers 16 years and over	143,921
Car, truck, or van -- drove alone	110,283
Car, truck, or van -- carpooled	18,472
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)	N/A
Walked	5,056
Other means	1,537
Worked at home	3,854
Mean travel time to work (minutes)	3,162,435

OCCUPATION (Charleston County)
Civilian employed population 16 years and over	51,221
Management, professional, and related occupations	51,221
Service occupations	25,484
Sales and office occupations	37,407
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	662
Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations	13,610
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	14,166

INDUSTRY (Charleston County)
Civilian employed population 16 years and over	51,221
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining	837
Construction	N/A
Manufacturing	9,633
Wholesale trade	4,164
Retail trade	17,968
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities	7,041
Information	3,114
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing	8,554
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative	14,239
Educational services, and health care and social assistance	32,425
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation, and food services	17,550
Other services, except public administration	N/A
Public administration	7,953

CLASS OF WORKER (Charleston County)
Civilian employed population 16 years and over	51,221
Private wage and salary workers	103,807
Government workers	28,722
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business	9,528
Unpaid family workers	N/A

Charleston Housing Characteristics

In Charleston, SC there are 141,031 housing units; of those housing units, there are approximately 123,326 occupied and 17,705 vacant. Types of homes change over the years, but single family homes detached have remained fairly consistent. In Charleston, there are 82,286 1-unit detached housing units. Single-family attached homes, 1-unit attached, which are also known as row houses or town homes, total 6,868 units in Charleston. Apartment housing and apartment buildings are from 2-50 units and the statistics are below. With so many housing units people are always in need of Charleston, SC local movers to help them move from one place to another so be sure to check out MovingIdeas.org for moving guides, Charleston, SC truck rentals options, quotes and additional information.

There are several different ranges if you are looking to rent or are a renter in Charleston. There are 2,048 housing units with rent less than $200, 2,356 with rent between $200-299, 9,891 with rent between $300-499 and 30,154 with rent for $500 and above. Full Charleston gross rent statistics are shown in the table below. Regardless of the housing unit value, it is always suggested by MovingIdeas.org to have Charleston, SC home security systems installed to keep you and your family safe.

HOUSING OCCUPANCY (Charleston County)
Total housing units	141,031
Occupied housing units	123,326
Vacant housing units	17,705

UNITS IN STRUCTURE (Charleston County)
Total housing units	141,031
1-unit, detached	82,286
1-unit, attached	6,868
2 units	6,214
3 or 4 units	8,959
5 to 9 units	11,824
10 to 19 units	6,205
20 to 49 units	2,238
50 or more units	3,886
Mobile home	12,463

HOUSING TENURE (Charleston County)
Occupied housing units	123,326
Owner-occupied	75,267
Renter-occupied	48,059

VEHICLES AVAILABLE (Charleston County)
Occupied housing units	123,326
No vehicles available	14,648
2 vehicle available	62,341
3 vehicles available	12,026
4 vehicles available	2,381
5 or more vehicles available	941

HOUSE HEATING FUEL (Charleston County)
Occupied housing units	123,326
Utility gas	35,247
Bottled, tank, or LP gas	N/A
Electricity	79,583
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1,943
Coal or coke	5
Wood	453
Solar energy	20
Other fuel	93
No fuel used	308

HOUSING UNIT VALUE (Charleston County)
Occupied housing units	123,326
Less Than $50,000	75,267
$50,000 to $99,999	18,505
$100,000 to $149,999	13,602
$150,000 to $199,999	9,028
$200,000 to $299,999	7,201
$300,000 to $499,999	3,277
$1,000,000 or more	995
Median (dollars)	130,200

GROSS RENT (Charleston County)
Occupied units paying rent	48,059
Less than $200	2,048
$200 to $299	2,356
$300 to $499	9,891
$500 to $699	15,566
$700 to $999	10,388
$1,000 to $1,499	3,457
$1,500 or more	742