North Charleston, South Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of North Charleston, South Carolina is 117,460 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 3rd-largest city in South Carolina. The median household income is $62,789, the median home value is $267,700, and the median age is 34.3.

The population has grown 28.6% since 2010 (97,949 → 126,005).

117,460

Population

1506

People / sq mi

$62,789

Median Income

$267,700

Median Home Value

North Charleston covers 78.0 sq mi of land at 1506 people per square mile.

About North Charleston, SC

North Charleston is a city in South Carolina with a population of 117,460. It ranks #3 among cities in South Carolina by population. The median age is 34.3, younger than the national median. The population is 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

The median household income in North Charleston is $62,789, below the US median of $74,580. 11.5% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $267,700, with monthly rent averaging $1,364. The homeownership rate of 48.5% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in North Charleston reflects 28.0% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.4% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 24.5 minutes each way.

North Charleston city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of North Charleston city had a population of 97,949 in 2010 and 126,005 in 2024, a 28.6% growth over 14 years. The peak was 126,005 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.82%.

126,005

Population (2024)

97,949

Population (2010)

126,005

Peak (2024)

1.82%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	97,949	-	-	estimate
2011	99,898	+1,949	+1.99%	estimate
2012	101,994	+2,096	+2.10%	estimate
2013	104,050	+2,056	+2.02%	estimate
2014	106,754	+2,704	+2.60%	estimate
2015	108,597	+1,843	+1.73%	estimate
2016	109,738	+1,141	+1.05%	estimate
2017	110,820	+1,082	+0.99%	estimate
2018	113,077	+2,257	+2.04%	estimate
2019	115,382	+2,305	+2.04%	estimate
2020	115,613	+231	+0.20%	estimate
2021	117,633	+2,020	+1.75%	estimate
2022	118,745	+1,112	+0.95%	estimate
2023	121,740	+2,995	+2.52%	estimate
2024	126,005	+4,265	+3.50%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	39.1%
Black or African American	42.2%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.0%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$62,789

Median Household Income

$35,740

Per Capita Income

11.5%

Poverty Rate

2.8%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$267,700

Median Home Value

$1,364

Median Rent

48.5%

Owner-Occupied

Education

86.7%

High School+

28.0%

Bachelor's+

Commute

1.8%

Drive Alone

76.6%

Public Transit

8.4%

Work From Home

24.5 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

34.7%

Foreign Born

83.9%

Non-English at Home

10.3%

Veterans

11.9%

With Disability

83.2%

Health Insurance

96.2%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management	19.2%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	13.0%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	11.5%
Construction	10.0%
Manufacturing	9.4%
Retail Trade	6.8%
Public Administration	5.6%
Information	4.8%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	4.7%
Transportation & Warehousing	1.6%
Agriculture & Mining	0.2%

Largest cities in South Carolina

Charleston (152,014)Columbia (138,019)Mount Pleasant (92,662)Rock Hill (74,769)Greenville (71,755)Summerville (51,262)Goose Creek (46,964)Sumter (43,065)Florence (40,205)Greer (39,191)View all South Carolina cities →

Largest counties in South Carolina

Greenville County (537,575)Richland County (418,725)Charleston County (414,711)Horry County (368,937)Spartanburg County (338,096)

Part of South Carolina

South Carolina demographic profile All South Carolina data →

Metro areas in South Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Greenville (945,301)Columbia (839,868)Charleston (817,756)Augusta (618,022)Myrtle Beach (368,937)Spartanburg (365,086)Hilton Head Island (222,781)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, South Carolina has a population of 117,460 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 3rd-largest city in South Carolina.

The median household income in North Charleston, South Carolina is $62,789, with 11.5% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in North Charleston, South Carolina is $267,700, with median monthly rent at $1,364 and a homeownership rate of 48.5%.

The median age in North Charleston, South Carolina is 34.3 years. The population is 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

The population has grown 28.6% since 2010 (97,949 → 126,005).