Charleston County · Charleston-North Charleston · population 157,665
Where Charleston stands
At or near all-time high. averaging 8.4% annual growth over 5 years.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 22.6 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Charleston. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Charleston has held up across the cycle: home values at $593,739 with +8.4% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Charleston's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Charleston
Charleston is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina, with an estimated population of 157,665. It anchors the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. The population grew 1.2% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Charleston is $593,739 as of 2026-04, up 0.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.4% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Charleston average $2,186 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.4%). The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Charleston (Wikipedia)
Charleston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando rivers. Charleston had a population of 150,227 at the 2020 census, while the Charleston metropolitan area, comprising Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, has an estimated 870,000 residents. It ranks as the third-most populous metropolitan area in the state and the 71st-most populous in the U.S. It is the county seat of Charleston County.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Things to see in Charleston(Museums, historical sites, and other attractions)
- The Battery, a historic defensive seawall and promenade located at the tip of the peninsula along with White Point Garden, a park featuring several memorials and Civil War-era artillery pieces.
- Charleston Museum, America's first museum, founded in 1773.
- Exchange and Provost, built in 1767, it is operated as a museum by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Gibbes Museum of Art, opened in 1905, it houses principally American works with a Charleston or Southern connection.
- Gov. William Aiken House, also known as the Aiken-Rhett House, is a house museum built in 1820.
- Fireproof Building houses the South Carolina Historical Society, which offers a rotating series of historical displays.
- Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston, a free a non-collecting contemporary arts organization.
- Heyward-Washington House, a historic house museum owned and operated by the Charleston Museum. The house is furnished in the late 18th century and includes a collection of Charleston-made furniture.
- International African American Museum, opened in 2023.
- Joseph Manigault House, a historic house museum owned and operated by the Charleston Museum. Gabriel Manigault designed the house, which is significant for its Adam style architecture.
- Nathaniel Russell House, a federal-style house open to the public as a house museum.
- Old Slave Mart Museum, located at 6 Chalmers Street in the historic district, is the first African American Museum. It has operated since 1938.
+2 more on Wikipedia.
Extracted from the Wikipedia article. Names linked in the source — open the city’s Wikipedia page for details.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Charleston County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Charleston County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Neighborhoods of Charleston
73 tracked · ranked by median home valueSee the full neighborhood ranking →
Cities like Charleston
Run the numbers for Charleston
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Charleston listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Maine teacher wounded in South Carolina shooting faces 'months' of recoveryWMTW · 15h ago
- GoFundMe's created for deadly King Street shooting victimsWCIV · 7h ago
- Bystanders injured in King Street shooting were tourists, cycling instructors from MainePost and Courier · 18h ago
- Maine teacher among 2 women injured in South Carolina shooting that left 1 deadnewscentermaine.com · 1d ago
- 2 Maine women injured in South Carolina shootingWGME · 1d ago
- "Don't go to sleep, stay awake." 911 calls from King Street shooting paint chaotic pictureWCIV · 1d ago
Local chatter (Reddit)
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Charleston-North Charleston area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Charleston
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.