Census ACS · #73 MSA
Charleston Metro Area
The Charleston-North Charleston, Sc Metropolitan Statistical Area has 817,756 residents. The median household income is $82,272 and the median home value is $345,400.
817,756
Population
316
People / sq mi
$82,272
Median Income
$345,400
Median Home Value
The Charleston CBSA covers 2,590 sq mi of land at 315.7 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 64.6% |
| Black or African American | 23.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% |
Economy & Income
$82,272
Median Household Income
$46,863
Per Capita Income
7.7%
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Charleston metro's price level is 101.0 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 1.0% higher the US average. The local median income of $82,272 has the buying power of $81,488 in average-priced US metros.
101.0
Price Level (US = 100)
$81,488
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$82,272
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$345,400
Median Home Value
$1,488
Median Rent
68.7%
Homeownership
Education
91.9%
High School+
40.0%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.6%
Drive Alone
12.9%
Work From Home
27.4 min
Avg Commute
45.0%
Foreign Born
Charleston spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in South Carolina
Largest counties in South Carolina
Part of South Carolina
Other metros
Metro areas in South Carolina
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Charleston-North Charleston, Sc Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 817,756 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #73 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Charleston metro area is $82,272, with a per capita income of $46,863.
The Charleston-North Charleston, Sc CBSA spans the state of South Carolina.
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More from South Carolina
Data for the Charleston-North Charleston, Sc CBSA (16700) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Educational attainment is the headline number in Charleston: 40.0% of adults 25 and older have a four-year degree. Charleston is a metro area in SC with a population of 817,756.
Median household income is $82,272, near the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate is 7.7%, below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $345,400, with typical rent around $1,488.
Charleston is among the best-educated US metro areas: 40.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national 35.0%.
The education numbers are the throughline: a college-heavy population in Charleston usually coincides with higher incomes and a workforce concentrated in professional and information industries.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.