The Town FilesNorth Charleston, South Carolina
City in Charleston County · population 114,852 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $302,200
- Household income
- $62,956
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 34.6
North Charleston is a city of 114,852 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $302,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 91% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How North Charleston ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in North Charleston is worth $302,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $62,956, which is more affordable than 15% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,430 a month. 49.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Charleston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $302,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,430 | $937 |
| Median household income | $62,956 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 49.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in North Charleston
| People | North Charleston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in North Charleston
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 38.9°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 22 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Charleston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 11, 1960 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 181 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 17, 1996.
Severe weather in Charleston County since 1996
Charleston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Charleston County
Charleston County had 278,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,271 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in North Charleston itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in North Charleston
32 public schools with 19,199 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dorchester High | 9-12 | 2,301 | 16.8 |
| RB Stall High | 9-12 | 2,025 | 16.9 |
| Meeting Street Elementary | PK-8 | 1,153 | 8.7 |
| Charleston School of the Arts | 6-12 | 1,069 | 15.7 |
| River Oaks Middle | 6-8 | 801 | 16.0 |
| North Charleston High | 9-12 | 785 | 9.1 |
| Academic Magnet High | 9-12 | 718 | 16.7 |
| A. C. Corcoran Elementary | PK-5 | 716 | 15.9 |
| Pinehurst Elementary | 1-5 | 690 | 10.1 |
| Eagle Nest Elementary | PK-5 | 681 | 14.5 |
| Northwoods Middle | 6-8 | 677 | 13.3 |
| Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary | PK-5 | 658 | 13.4 |
Towns near North Charleston
- Hanahan, SC3.8 mi · 20,325 people · home $374,800
- Goose Creek, SC6.2 mi · 45,946 people · home $306,000
- Ladson, SC6.8 mi · 15,550 people · home $234,900
- Charleston, SC8.2 mi · 150,227 people · home $509,700
- Sangaree, SC8.7 mi · 7,781 people · home $251,800
- Summerville, SC9.0 mi · 50,915 people · home $328,100
- Ravenel, SC13.8 mi · 2,542 people · home $238,700
- Mount Pleasant, SC13.9 mi · 90,801 people · home $748,500
North Charleston questions
Is North Charleston, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Charleston scores better for retirees than 13% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 4%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in North Charleston?
The median owner-occupied home in North Charleston is valued at $302,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,956, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,430 a month.
What is the weather like in North Charleston?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 38.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does North Charleston get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Charleston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 11, 1960. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)