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City · 119,913 residents · Charleston County, South Carolina

North Charleston , South Carolina

In North Charleston, a typical home is worth $302,200 and typical rent is $1,430 a month. Compared with all of Charleston County, the typical home value is 38% lower, typical household income is 29% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $302,200

    38% below the county

    17% above South Carolina

    • North Charleston
    • Charleston
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,430a month

    12% below the county

    21% above South Carolina

    • North Charleston
    • Charleston
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $62,956a year

    29% below the county

    9% below South Carolina

    • North Charleston
    • Charleston
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    14 points below the county

    22 points below South Carolina

    • North Charleston
    • Charleston
    • South Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$309,108
1.3% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,742 a month
3.1% more than 12 months ago

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

North 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 North Charleston apart

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

  1. The typical home in North Charleston is worth $302,200, 38% less than in Charleston County as a whole ($489,100).

  2. The typical household income in North Charleston is $62,956, 29% less than in Charleston County as a whole ($88,494).

  3. Nearby, in Ladson, the typical home value is $234,900: 22% less than in North Charleston ($302,200).

  4. 50% of households in North Charleston own their home, against 64% in Charleston County.

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

The homes here

Housing in North Charleston

What homes there are in North 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

Homes in North Charleston are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 50%, against 58% in Charleston County.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1996 or later; in Charleston County, from 1991 or later.

Homes in North 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

About 95% of owner-occupied homes in North Charleston are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Charleston County ($690,000).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Charleston County is $1,884; about 79% of rents in North Charleston are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,652 a month

Charleston County: $2,167 a month

Without a mortgage

$515 a month

Charleston County: $648 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Charleston County: 66%

In North Charleston, 67% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,652 a month, against $2,167 in Charleston County. Without one it drops to $515.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in North Charleston rose 73%; in Charleston County, it rose 55%.

Much as in Charleston County, the typical rent in North Charleston rose 36% since 2015–2019.

While home values in North Charleston changed +73% and rent +36%, the typical household income rose 38%.

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

MeasureNorth CharlestonCharleston CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 9.0%11.7%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.8%1.6%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.362.292.442.53
Drive alone 74%69%76%69%
Carpool 12%9%9%9%
Public transit 2%1%0%3%
Walk or bike 2%3%2%3%
Work from home 10%18%12%15%
Other means 1%1%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In North Charleston, the rental vacancy rate is 9.0%; in Charleston County, 11.7%.

In North Charleston, 3.8% of households live with more than one person per room, against 1.6% in Charleston County.

A household in North Charleston has 2.36 people on average, about the same as in Charleston County (2.29).

In North Charleston, 12% of workers share a car to get to work; in Charleston County, 9%.

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 North Charleston?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in North Charleston, worth $302,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in North Charleston, which is $62,956 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $102,777 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 North 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 $10,577 (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

$2,398

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$296,726
Total interest
$426,920
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,103 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,469 a month

  • Tight

    $1,469 to $1,889 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,889 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in North Charleston ($62,956 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,398
Principal & interest$2,010
Property tax$128
Home insurance$126
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$134

You need at least $10,577 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

North Charleston and Charleston County

North 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).

North Charleston's own numbers

Typical home value
$302,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,430
Typical yearly household income
$62,956
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
0.51%

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 North Charleston

A typical home in North Charleston is worth $302,200: 38% below the county and 17% above South Carolina. With the typical household income in North Charleston ($62,956 a year), a typical home costs 4.8 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.

  • North Charleston 4.8 years
  • Charleston 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

North 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
  • North Charleston $302,200
  • Charleston $489,100
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • North Charleston $1,430
  • Charleston $1,620
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • North Charleston $62,956
  • Charleston $88,494
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
North Charleston next to Charleston County and South Carolina
Measure North Charleston Charleston County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $302,200 $489,100 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,430 $1,620 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,956 $88,494 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 64% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,527 $1,901 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.51% 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 North Charleston

For a typical $302,200 home in North Charleston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, North Charleston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,398a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,577
    Cash to close
    $19,643
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $134

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,343a month

    Down payment
    $15,110
    Cash to close
    $24,176
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $144

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,892a month

    Down payment
    $60,440
    Cash to close
    $69,506
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,172a month

    Down payment
    $45,330
    Cash to close
    $54,396
    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 North Charleston and for Charleston County.

Property tax

Effective rate in North Charleston

0.51%of the home’s value each year

$1,527 a year for the typical owner in North Charleston.

  • North Charleston 0.51%
  • Charleston 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 North Charleston

Typical rent in North Charleston is $1,430 a month: 12% below the county. In North 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 North Charleston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). North Charleston has 6 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,580 in 29405 to $2,260 in 29404.

1 of the 6 is above the fair market rent for Charleston County ($1,884).

  • 29404 $2,260$2,800
  • 29405 $1,580$1,960
  • 29406 $1,750$2,170
  • 29418 $1,620$2,010
  • 29420 $1,850$2,290
  • 29485 $1,860$2,310

5 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for North 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 North Charleston

HUD lists 16 buildings with rents for lower incomes in North Charleston. These are the largest.

  • Horizon Village 3835 Spruill Ave, North Charleston 29405 306 homes, 281 low-income · 1 bd: 68 · 2 bd: 112 · 3 bd: 108 · 4 bd: 18 · In service since 2007
  • Oakfield Apartments 8750 Fairwind Dr, North Charleston 29406 184 low-income homes · For families (843) 797-3276
  • Fairwind Apartments 8750 Fairwind Dr, North Charleston 29406 168 low-income homes · For families (843) 797-3276
  • Greentree North 2630 Otranto Rd, North Charleston 29406 96 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2012 · For families (843) 572-0172
  • Osprey Place Apts 2390 Baker Hospital Blvd, North Charleston 29405 108 homes, 72 low-income · 2 bd: 36 · 3 bd: 72 · In service since 2004 · For families

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in North 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 pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in North Charleston

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

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

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Charleston, SC

    7301 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 2 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Origin SC

    8084 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 3 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (843) 628-3000

  • Credit.org - North Charleston, SC Branch

    5935 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 3 miles away · Spanish

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

Every agency in Charleston County All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near North 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 North Charleston

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Charleston County is named for North Charleston or Charleston County.

3 other authorities have 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 North 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 North Charleston.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about North Charleston

Short answers with the numbers for North 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 North Charleston?

The typical home value in North Charleston is $302,200, 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 North Charleston?

Typical rent in North Charleston is $1,430 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 North Charleston?

North 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 North Charleston?

The typical homeowner in North Charleston pays $1,527 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.51% of the home’s value; in Charleston County, the rate is 0.39%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in North 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).