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City · 154,338 residents · Charleston County, South Carolina

Charleston , South Carolina

In Charleston, a typical home is worth $509,700 and typical rent is $1,722 a month. Compared with all of Charleston County, typical rent is 6% higher and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $509,700

    4% above the county

    97% above South Carolina

    • Charleston
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,722a month

    6% above the county

    46% above South Carolina

    • Charleston
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $92,414a year

    4% above the county

    33% above South Carolina

    • Charleston
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    8 points below the county

    16 points below South Carolina

    • Charleston
    • County
    • South Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$587,511
1.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,288 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Charleston is in Charleston County. The FHA loan limit ($690,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Charleston County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Charleston apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Charleston has the 4th highest typical home value of the 101 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($509,700).

  2. Nearby, in North Charleston, the typical home value is $302,200: 41% less than in Charleston ($509,700).

  3. Nearby, in Hanahan, the typical rent is $1,412: 18% less than in Charleston ($1,722).

  4. Charleston has the 8th highest typical rent of the 100 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($1,722).

  5. 56% of households in Charleston own their home, against 64% in Charleston County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Charleston

What homes there are in Charleston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Charleston there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (48%); in Charleston County, 58%.

Year built

Homes in Charleston are newer: the typical year built is 1995; in Charleston County, 1991.

Homes in Charleston are smaller: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Charleston County, 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Charleston County is $690,000, and about 67% of owner-occupied homes in Charleston are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,884), about 60% of rented homes in Charleston cost less.

With a mortgage

$2,253 a month

Charleston County: $2,167 a month

Without a mortgage

$709 a month

Charleston County: $648 a month

Owners with a mortgage

69%

Charleston County: 66%

Owning costs about the same in Charleston as in Charleston County: with a mortgage, $2,253 a month; without one, $709.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Charleston rose 54% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Charleston County (55%).

Much as in Charleston County, the typical rent in Charleston rose 37% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Charleston rose 35% over that time; home values changed +54% and rent +37%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCharlestonCharleston CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 9.1%11.7%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.5%1.6%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.182.292.442.53
Drive alone 66%69%76%69%
Carpool 7%9%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike 5%3%2%3%
Work from home 19%18%12%15%
Other means 2%1%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Charleston is 9.1%, lower than in Charleston County (11.7%).

More than one person per room: that is how 1.5% of households in Charleston live, near the figure in Charleston County (1.6%).

A household in Charleston has 2.18 people on average, about the same as in Charleston County (2.29).

The car rules in Charleston: 66% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Charleston?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Charleston, worth $509,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in Charleston, which is $92,414 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $171,891 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Charleston County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Charleston. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $17,840 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,011

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$500,468
Total interest
$720,055
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,608 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,156 a month

  • Tight

    $2,156 to $2,772 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,772 a month

    Your payment · 52%

Compared with the typical household income in Charleston ($92,414 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,011
Principal & interest$3,390
Property tax$183
Home insurance$212
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$225

You need at least $17,840 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Charleston and Charleston County

Charleston is in Charleston County, South Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Charleston's own numbers

Typical home value
$509,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,722
Typical yearly household income
$92,414
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.43%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Charleston County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$690,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,884
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+71%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
30%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Charleston County.

Everything about Charleston County

Buying

Buying a home in Charleston

A typical home in Charleston is worth $509,700: 4% above the county and 97% above South Carolina. With the typical household income in Charleston ($92,414 a year), a typical home costs 5.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Charleston 5.5 years
  • County 5.5 years
  • South Carolina 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Charleston County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Charleston County rose 129% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Charleston County.

Period County South Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.3% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +71% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +129% +104% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Charleston next to Charleston County, South Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Charleston $509,700
  • County $489,100
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Charleston $1,722
  • County $1,620
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Charleston $92,414
  • County $88,494
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Charleston next to Charleston County and South Carolina
Measure Charleston Charleston County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $509,700 $489,100 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,722 $1,620 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $92,414 $88,494 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 64% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,214 $1,901 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.43% 0.39% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 55% 53% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Charleston County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Charleston

For a typical $509,700 home in Charleston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Charleston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,011a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $17,840
    Cash to close
    $33,131
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $225

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,917a month

    Down payment
    $25,485
    Cash to close
    $40,776
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $242

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,157a month

    Down payment
    $101,940
    Cash to close
    $117,231
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,629a month

    Down payment
    $76,455
    Cash to close
    $91,746
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Charleston and for Charleston County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Charleston

0.43%of the home’s value each year

$2,214 a year for the typical owner in Charleston.

  • Charleston 0.43%
  • County 0.39%
  • South Carolina 0.48%

What South Carolina publishes Special 4% assessment ratio for your legal residence (South Carolina General Assembly (South Carolina Code of Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in South Carolina

Flood risk in Charleston County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Charleston County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
30%
44,952
Of those, with NFIP insurance
78%
County South Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 30% 4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 78% 85% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Charleston

Typical rent in Charleston is $1,722 a month: 6% above the county. In Charleston, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Charleston County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,884 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.23 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Charleston County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,661 $31.94 $66,440
1 bedroom $1,731 $33.29 $69,240
2 bedrooms $1,884 $36.23 $75,360
3 bedrooms $2,336 $44.92 $93,440
4 bedrooms $2,687 $51.67 $107,480

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Charleston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Charleston has 9 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,910 in 29407 to $2,400 in 29492.

9 of the 9 are above the fair market rent for Charleston County ($1,884).

  • 29401 $2,400$2,980
  • 29403 $2,190$2,720
  • 29407 $1,910$2,370
  • 29409 $2,190$2,720
  • 29412 $2,190$2,720
  • 29414 $2,150$2,670
  • 29424 $2,320$2,890
  • 29425 $1,910$2,370
  • 29492 $2,400$2,980

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Charleston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Charleston

HUD lists 38 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Charleston. These are the largest.

  • Meeting Street Manor 231 America St, Charleston 29403 501 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Charleston · Average payment: $374 a month · Average wait: 17 months (843) 720-3970
  • Robert Mills Manor 125 Logan St, Charleston 29401 447 homes, 445 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Charleston · Average payment: $398 a month · Average wait: 13 months (843) 720-3970
  • Gadsden Green Homes 33 Flood St, Charleston 29403 304 homes, 302 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Charleston · Average payment: $380 a month · Average wait: 18 months (843) 720-3970
  • Bridgeview Village 100 N Romney St, Charleston 29403 300 low-income homes · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 100 · 3 bd: 170 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Bridgeview Village Apartments 108 N Romney St Ofc D, Charleston 29403 300 low-income homes · For families (843) 723-6543

See all 63 buildings in Charleston County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Charleston

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Charleston County; 3 say they serve in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Charleston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Charleston or Charleston County. The ones below are statewide in South Carolina: they work in Charleston the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in South Carolina

  • Palmetto Home Advantage

    Statewide in South Carolina

    South Carolina state agency program with forgivable down payment assistance of 0%, 3% or 4% of the loan, with no monthly payments, for any buyer in all 46 counties. Offered by SC Housing (South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • SC Housing Homebuyer Program

    Statewide in South Carolina

    South Carolina state agency fixed-rate mortgage with forgivable help for the down payment, closing costs or prepaid expenses: a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments, forgiven if you live in the home 15 years. Offered by SC Housing (South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Charleston

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Charleston, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Charleston Trident Urban League, Inc.

    2133 N Hillside Dr, Charleston · 2 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 6 more
    (843) 769-8173

  • Credit.org - North Charleston, SC Branch

    5935 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (800) 431-8157

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Charleston, SC

    7301 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 8 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (425) 602-6222

Every agency in Charleston County All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near Charleston

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Charleston

HUD’s record names them for Charleston or Charleston County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Charleston Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (843) 720-3970
  • Charleston Co HSG & Redev Auth Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (843) 628-0728

One other authority has an office in Charleston County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Charleston County

These cities are also in Charleston County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Charleston County Housing in South Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Charleston, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Charleston County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Charleston.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Charleston

Short answers with the numbers for Charleston and all of Charleston County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Charleston?

The typical home value in Charleston is $509,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Charleston County it is $489,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Charleston?

Typical rent in Charleston is $1,722 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Charleston County is $1,884.

What is the FHA loan limit in Charleston?

Charleston uses the FHA limit for all of Charleston County (2026): $690,000 for a one-unit home and $1,326,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Charleston?

The typical homeowner in Charleston pays $2,214 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.43% of the home’s value; in Charleston County, the rate is 0.39%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Charleston?

There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Charleston County. 3 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).