Charleston County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Charleston County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 414,711. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charleston County is 39.0 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charleston County is $84,320. This is 26% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $450,800. Housing costs are 90% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 63.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Charleston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.5%.

Education

49.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Charleston County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 56% higher than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%. Notably, 19.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.