Charleston, SC

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Population

131,204

1.01% growth

Median Age

34.4


Median Household Income

$61,367

6.53% growth

Poverty Rate

14.6%


Number of Employees

70,777

2.31% growth

Median Property Value

$286,200

6.24% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Charleston, SC had a population of 131k people with a median age of 34.4 and a median household income of $61,367. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Charleston, SC grew from 129,888 to 131,204, a 1.01% increase and its median household income grew from $57,603 to $61,367, a 6.53% increase.

The population of Charleston, SC is 72.1% White Alone, 21.9% Black or African American Alone, and 2.86% Hispanic or Latino. 4.62% of the people in Charleston, SC speak a non-English language, and 98% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Charleston, SC are College of Charleston (2,857 degrees awarded in 2016), Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1,064 degrees), and Medical University of South Carolina (1,022 degrees).

The median property value in Charleston, SC is $286,200, and the homeownership rate is 54.4%. Most people in Charleston, SC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 20.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Charleston, SC is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: The Old Market

Photo by Harvey Craft

United StatesSouth CarolinaCharleston County, SCBerkeley County, SCCharleston-North Charleston, SCNorth Charleston City PUMA, SCCharleston City PUMA, SCMount Pleasant Town PUMA, SC

Economy

The economy of Charleston, SC employs 70.8k people. The largest industries in Charleston, SC are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,009 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,310 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (7,765 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($59,268), Manufacturing ($57,855), and Utilities ($51,683).

Median household income in Charleston, SC is $61,367. Males in Charleston, SC have an average income that is 1.37 times higher than the average income of females, which is $40,985. The income inequality in Charleston, SC (measured using the Gini index) is 0.46, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$61,367

2017 value

± $1,631

6.53%

1 Year Growth

± 4.07%

Households in Charleston, SC have a median annual income of $61,367, which is more than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $57,603 in 2016, which represents a 6.53% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Charleston, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the place level, so we are showing data for the South Carolina.

$56,080

Average Male Salary

± $1,419

$40,985

Average Female Salary

± $1,018

In 2017, full-time male employees in Charleston, SC made 1.37 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Charleston, SC by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the place level, so we are showing data for the South Carolina.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

    $49,597 ± $53,271

  2. Asian

    $47,877 ± $7,789

  3. White

    $47,332 ± $1,044

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Charleston, SC workers was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. These workers were paid 1.04 times more than Asian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Charleston, SC by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Charleston, SC is from South Carolina.

0.46

2017 Wage GINI

0.456

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in South Carolina was 0.46 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.695% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for South Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 2

  2. Census Tract 204.03

  3. Census Tract 26.06

In 2017, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Charleston, SC was Census Tract 2 with a value of $140,234, followed by Census Tract 204.03 and Census Tract 26.06, with respective values of $108,372 and $82,829.

The following map shows all of the places in Charleston, SC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

14.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Charleston, SC (18.3k out of 125k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    9,594 ± 825

  2. Black

    7,777 ± 674

  3. Hispanic

    624 ± 223

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Charleston, SC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

70.8k

2017 Value

± 2,018

2.31%

1 Year growth

± 3.93%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Charleston, SC grew at a rate of 2.31%, from 69.2k employees to 70.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Charleston, SC, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,864 people), Management Occupations (8,371 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,863 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,864 people), Management Occupations (8,371 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,863 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Charleston, SC has an unusually high number of residents working as Legal Occupations (1.75 times higher than expected), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations (1.61 times), and Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (1.46 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($79,000), Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($68,450), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($65,533).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

70.8k

2017 Value

± 2,018

2.31%

1 Year growth

± 3.93%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Charleston, SC grew at a rate of 2.31%, from 69.2k employees to 70.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Charleston, SC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,009 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,310 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (7,765 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Charleston, SC, though some of these residents may live in Charleston, SC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Charleston, SC, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,009 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,310 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (7,765 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Charleston, SC has an unusually high number of Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (1.57 times higher than expected), Accommodation & Food Services (1.54 times), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.45 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Charleston, SC, by median earnings, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($59,268), Manufacturing ($57,855), and Utilities ($51,683).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Plastics/rubber

    $15.9B

  2. Machinery

    $15.2B

  3. Mixed freight

    $11.7B

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina product (by dollars) was Plastics/rubber with $15.9B, followed by Machinery with $15.2B and Mixed freight and $11.7B.

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound South Carolina products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for South Carolina state.

$163B

2015 Value

$244B

Projected 2045 Value

49.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound South Carolina trade was $163B. This is expected to increase 49.4% to $244B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound South Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from South Carolina to other states, or from other states to South Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. North Carolina

    $22.2B

  2. Georgia

    $13.4B

  3. Tennessee

    $5.71B

In 2015, the top outbound South Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Carolina with $22.2B, followed by Georgia with $13.4B and Tennessee and $5.71B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that South Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

90.5% of the population of Charleston, SC has health coverage, with 54.3% on employee plans, 8.94% on Medicaid, 9.32% on Medicare, 15.6% on non-group plans, and 2.24% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the place of Charleston, SC was $7,311 in 2014. This is a 4.15% increase from the previous year ($7,020).

Primary care physicians in Charleston, SC see 1483 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.336% decrease from the previous year (1488 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1891 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 639 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Dillon County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (20.1%). Additionally, Lee County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (42.8%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

1483 to 1

Primary Care Physicians

Primary care physicians in South Carolina see an average of 1483 patients per year. This represents a 0.336% decrease from the previous year (1488 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in South Carolina in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

$7,311

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,235

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,491

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,298

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in South Carolina (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.15%, from $7,020 to $7,311.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

9.52%

Uninsured

54.3%

Employer Coverage

8.94%

Medicaid

9.32%

Medicare

15.6%

Non-Group

2.24%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Charleston, SC declined by 9.83% from 10.6% to 9.52%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Charleston, SC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Dillon County

    20.1% prevalence

  2. Williamsburg County

    19.6% prevalence

  3. Barnwell County

    18.7% prevalence

Dillon County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in South Carolina, at 20.1%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in South Carolina by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Charleston, SC is home to a population of 131k people, from which 98% are citizens. As of 2017, 4.06% of Charleston, SC residents were born outside of the country.

The ethnic composition of the population of Charleston, SC is composed of 94.6k White Alone residents (72.1%), 28.7k Black or African American Alone residents (21.9%), 3.75k Hispanic or Latino residents (2.86%), 2.04k Asian Alone residents (1.55%), 1.96k Two or More Races residents (1.49%), 141 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.107%), 80 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.061%), and 9 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.00686%).

The most common foreign languages spoken in Charleston, SC are Spanish or Spanish Creole (2,269 speakers), French (Incl. Patois, Cajun) (425 speakers), and German (411 speakers).

Age

Age by Nativity

34

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.4

40

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 3

In 2017, the median age of all people in Charleston, SC was 34.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 34, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 40. But people in Charleston, SC are getting getting older. In 2016, the average age of all Charleston, SC residents was 34.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

4.06%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

4.03%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

As of 2017, 4.06% of Charleston, SC residents were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Charleston, SC was 4.03%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Charleston, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    68,828 ± 6,396 people

  2. India

    11,778 ± 2,661 people

  3. Philippines

    9,880 ± 2,438 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Charleston, SC was Mexico, the natal country of 68,828 Charleston, SC residents, followed by India with 11,778 and Philippines with 9,880.

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Citizenship

98%

2017 Citizenship

97.9%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 98% of Charleston, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.1%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Charleston, SC was 97.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Charleston, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    94.6k ± 1.44k

  2. Black or African American Alone

    28.7k ± 1.36k

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    3.75k ± 553

In 2017, there were 3.3 times more White Alone residents (94.6k people) in Charleston, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 28.7k Black or African American Alone and 3.75k Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Charleston, SC as a share of the total population.

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Non-English Speakers

Most Common Languages

  1. Spanish or Spanish Creole

    2,269 speakers (1.89%)

  2. French (Incl. Patois, Cajun)

    425 speakers (0.355%)

  3. German

    411 speakers (0.343%)

4.62% of Charleston, SC citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is lower than the national average of 21.5%. In 2015, the most common non-English language spoken in Charleston, SC was Spanish or Spanish Creole. 1.89% of the overall population of Charleston, SC are native Spanish or Spanish Creole speakers. 0.355% speak French (Incl. Patois, Cajun) and 0.343% speak Spanish or Spanish Creole, the next two most common languages.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    2,963 ± 303

  2. Gulf War (2001-)

    1,905 ± 353

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    1,559 ± 230

Charleston, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.56 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2016, universities in Charleston, SC awarded 5,194 degrees. The student population of Charleston, SC is skewed towards women, with 8,291 male students and 10,419 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Charleston, SC are White (4,131 and 80.3%), followed by Black or African American (380 and 7.38%), Hispanic or Latino (216 and 4.2%), and Two or More Races (146 and 2.84%).

The largest universities in Charleston, SC by number of degrees awarded are College of Charleston (2,857 and 55%), Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1,064 and 20.5%), and Medical University of South Carolina (1,022 and 19.7%).

The most popular majors in Charleston, SC are General Business Administration & Management (606 and 11.7%), General Psychology (220 and 4.24%), and Registered Nursing (209 and 4.02%).

The median tuition costs in Charleston, SC are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $150 and $410 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Biological Sciences

    204 degrees awarded

  2. General Business Administration & Management

    470 degrees awarded

  3. Registered Nursing

    209 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Charleston, SC was General Biological Sciences with 204 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Charleston, SC according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. College of Charleston

    2,857 degrees awarded

  2. Citadel Military College of South Carolina

    1,064 degrees awarded

  3. Medical University of South Carolina

    1,022 degrees awarded

$150

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2016, the Charleston, SC institution with the largest number of graduating students was College of Charleston with 2,857 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

2,213

Degrees Awarded to Men

2,981

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2016, 2,213 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Charleston, SC, which is 0.742 times less than the 2,981 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Charleston, SC by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    4,131 degrees awarded

  2. Black or African American

    380 degrees awarded

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    216 degrees awarded

In 2016 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Charleston, SC were to White students. These 4,131 degrees mean that there were 10.9 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 380 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Charleston, SC was $286,200 in 2017, which is 1.32 times larger than the national average of $217,600. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $269,400 to $286,200, a 6.24% increase. The homeownership rate in Charleston, SC is 54.4%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Charleston, SC have an average commute time of 20.7 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Charleston, SC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Income

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$61,367

Median Household Income

± $1,631

53.8k

Number of Households

± 1,620

In 2017, the median household income of the 53.8k households in Charleston, SC grew to $61,367 from the previous year's value of $57,603.

The following chart displays the households in Charleston, SC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Housing

Property Value

$286,200

2017 Median

± $5,893

$269,400

2016 Median

± $5,578

In 2017, the median property value in Charleston, SC grew to to $286,200 from the previous year's value of $269,400.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Charleston, SC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Charleston, SC the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

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Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Charleston, SC distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Charleston, SC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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Rent vs Own

54.4%

2017 Homeownership

53.5%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 54.4% of the housing units in Charleston, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 53.5%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Charleston, SC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Charleston, SC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Charleston, SC have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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Commute Time

20.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Charleston, SC have a shorter commute time (20.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 1.17% of the workforce in Charleston, SC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Charleston, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    76.6%

  2. Worked At Home

    6.4%

  3. Carpooled

    6.01%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Charleston, SC was Drove Alone, followed by those who Worked At Home and those who Carpooled.

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