South Carolina Gazetteer
Also See Charleston, SC: ZIP Codes & Maps
The City of Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina with a population of 154,338 as of 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Charleston ranks in the upper quartile for Population Density when compared to the other cities, towns and Census Designated Places (CDPs) in South Carolina. See peer rankings below.
The primary coordinate point for Charleston is located at latitude 32.7766 and longitude -79.9309 in Charleston County. The formal boundaries for the City of Charleston encompass a land area of 109.04 sq. miles and a water area of 18.51 sq. miles. Charleston County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).
While the primary coordinates for City of Charleston are located in Charleston County, it should be noted that the formal boundaries for this community also extend into and Berkeley County.
The City of Charleston has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.
South Carolina is one of 20 states where Census County Divisions (CCDs) are used for statistical tracking of subdivisions within each county. The City of Charleston is located within Charleston Central Division of Charleston County.
Source: 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
POPULATION | |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 154,338 (100%) |
| Population Density | 1,339 per sq mi |
| Diversity Index1 | 45 |
INCOME | |
| Median Household Income | $92,414 |
| Per Capita Income | $59,875 |
| Median Home Value | $509,700 |
HOUSING | |
|---|---|
| Total HU (Housing Units) | 77,417 (100%) |
| Owner Occupied HU | 37,816 (48.8%) |
| Renter Occupied HU | 30,211 (39.0%) |
| Vacant Housing Units | 9,390 (12.1%) |
HOUSEHOLDS | |
| Total Households | 68,027 |
| Average Household Size | 2.18 |
| Family Households | 35,318 (51.9%) |
The table below compares Charleston to the other 475 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in South Carolina by rank and percentile using 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.
| Variable Description | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | # 1 | 100th |
| Population Density | # 90 | 81st |
| Median Household Income | # 55 | 89th |
| Per Capita Income | # 29 | 94th |
| Diversity Index | # 248 | 48th |
Additional comparisons and rankings can be made with a VERY EASY TO USE South Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool.
Also See: Nearby Hotels | Driving Directions
