Charleston, SC

Census Place

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Population

133,762

1.95% 1-year growth

US Senator

Lindsey Graham

Republican Party

US Senator

Tim Scott

Republican Party

Median Age

34.7

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Median Household Income

$64,599

5.27% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$308,100

7.65% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

73,046

3.21% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Charleston, SC had a population of 134k people with a median age of 34.7 and a median household income of $64,599. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Charleston, SC grew from 131,204 to 133,762, a 1.95% increase and its median household income grew from $61,367 to $64,599, a 5.27% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Charleston, SC are White (Non-Hispanic) (71.2%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (22.3%), White (Hispanic) (2.55%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.88%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.45%). NaNk% of the people in Charleston, SC speak a non-English language, and 97.7% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Charleston, SC are College of Charleston (2,574 degrees awarded in 2017), Medical University of South Carolina (1,051 degrees), and Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1,033 degrees).

The median property value in Charleston, SC is $308,100, and the homeownership rate is 55.1%. Most people in Charleston, SC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 21.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Charleston, SC is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: The Old Market

Photo by Harvey Craft

United States South Carolina Berkeley County, SC Charleston County, SC Charleston-North Charleston, SC Charleston City PUMA, SC Mount Pleasant Town PUMA, SC North Charleston City PUMA, SC

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for South Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in South Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of South Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Charleston County, SC went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 50.6% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (42.8%), followed by Other (6.58%). The most partisan county was Allendale County, SC with 76.1% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing the state of South Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Charleston, SC. Showing the available data for Charleston County, SC.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Hillary Rodham Clinton (50.6%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (42.8%)
Republican Party
Other (6.58%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in South Carolina went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 50.6% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (42.8%), followed by Other (6.58%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in South Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of South Carolina.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Popular Vote for Charleston County, SC

50.6% for the Democratic Party

Most Partisan Counties in South Carolina

Allendale County, SC
76.1% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Pickens County, SC
73.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Oconee County, SC
71.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in South Carolina was Allendale County, SC with 76.1% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in South Carolina colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from South Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Lindsey Graham

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2003

Tim Scott

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2013
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Jim DeMint.

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing South Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from South Carolina

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for South Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Charleston, SC is home to a population of 134k people, from which 97.7% are citizens. As of 2018, 4.46% of Charleston, SC residents were born outside of the country (5.97k people).

In 2018, there were 3.19 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (95.2k people) in Charleston, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 29.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.41k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Charleston, SC

White (Non-Hispanic)
95.2k ± 1.28k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
29.8k ± 1.3k
White (Hispanic)
3.41k ± 562

3.01%

Hispanic Population

4.02k people

3.01% of the people in Charleston, SC are hispanic (4.02k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Charleston, SC as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

4.46%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

5.97k people

4.06%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

5.33k people

As of 2018, 4.46% of Charleston, SC residents (5.97k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Charleston, SC was 4.06%, 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.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 2.9

In 2018, the median age of all people in Charleston, SC was 34.7. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 34, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 39. But people in Charleston, SC are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Charleston, SC residents was 34.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
68,828 ± 6,396 people
India
11,778 ± 2,661 people
Philippines
9,880 ± 2,438 people

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

Citizenship

97.7%

2018 Citizenship

98%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 97.7% of Charleston, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Charleston, SC was 98%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,961 ± 327
Gulf War (2001-)
2,133 ± 375
Gulf War (1990s)
1,619 ± 325

Charleston, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.39 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Charleston, SC is $64,599. In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income in Charleston, SC was Census Tract 2 with a value of $148,359, followed by Census Tract 204.03 and Census Tract 1, with respective values of $112,745 and $112,194.

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

The economy of Charleston, SC employs 73k people. The largest industries in Charleston, SC are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,231 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,526 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (8,271 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($230,521), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,598), and Manufacturing ($56,661).

Wages

Median Household Income

$64,599

2018 value

± $1,900

5.27%

1 Year Growth

± 3.77%

Households in Charleston, SC have a median annual income of $64,599, which is more than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $61,367 in 2017, which represents a 5.27% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Charleston, SC compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$56,080

Average Male Salary in South Carolina

± $1,419

$40,985

Average Female Salary in South Carolina

± $1,018

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

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

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in South Carolina

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
$49,597 ± $53,271
Asian
$47,877 ± $7,789
White
$47,332 ± $1,044

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of South Carolina 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 in South Carolina.

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

Wage Distribution

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

0.46

2017 Wage GINI in South Carolina

0.456

2016 Wage GINI in South Carolina

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 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.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 2
Census Tract 204.03
Census Tract 1

In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Charleston, SC was Census Tract 2 with a value of $148,359, followed by Census Tract 204.03 and Census Tract 1, with respective values of $112,745 and $112,194.

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

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

14.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Charleston, SC (18.3k out of 128k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. 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.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
9,227 ± 748
Black
8,183 ± 735
Two Or More
457 ± 176

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

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

73k

2018 Value

± 2,053

3.21%

1 Year growth

± 3.85%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Charleston, SC grew at a rate of 3.21%, from 70.8k employees to 73k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Charleston, SC, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,780 people), Management Occupations (8,725 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,871 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,780 people), Management Occupations (8,725 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,871 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Charleston, SC has an unusually high number of residents working as Legal Occupations (1.66 times higher than expected), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations (1.64 times), and Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media Occupations (1.6 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Charleston, SC, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($95,685), Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($72,682), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($69,252).

Industries

Employment by Industries

73k

2018 Value

± 2,053

3.21%

1 Year growth

± 3.85%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Charleston, SC grew at a rate of 3.21%, from 70.8k employees to 73k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Charleston, SC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,231 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,526 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (8,271 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.

Most Common

The most common industries in Charleston, SC, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,231 people), Accommodation & Food Services (8,526 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (8,271 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Charleston, SC has an unusually high number of Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (1.59 times higher than expected), Accommodation & Food Services (1.54 times), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (1.49 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Charleston, SC, by median earnings, are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($230,521), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,598), and Manufacturing ($56,661).

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

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

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for South Carolina.

$163B

2015 Value in South Carolina

$244B

Projected 2045 Value in South Carolina

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.

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

North Carolina
$22.2B
Georgia
$13.4B
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).

Education

In 2017, universities in Charleston, SC awarded 4,872 degrees. The student population of Charleston, SC is skewed towards women, with 8,305 male students and 10,158 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Charleston, SC are White (3,876 and 80.2%), followed by Black or African American (366 and 7.58%), Hispanic or Latino (210 and 4.35%), and Two or More Races (143 and 2.96%).

The largest universities in Charleston, SC by number of degrees awarded are College of Charleston (2,574 and 52.8%), Medical University of South Carolina (1,051 and 21.6%), and Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1,033 and 21.2%).

The most popular majors in Charleston, SC are General Business Administration & Management (575 and 11.8%), General Biological Sciences (210 and 4.31%), and General Psychology (202 and 4.15%).

The median tuition costs in Charleston, SC are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $75 and $75 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
202 degree-majorss awarded
General Business Administration & Management
438 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
205 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Charleston, SC was Registered Nursing with 202 degree-majorss awarded.

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

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

College of Charleston
2,574 degrees awarded
Medical University of South Carolina
1,051 degrees awarded
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
1,033 degrees awarded

$75

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2017, the Charleston, SC institution with the largest number of graduating students was College of Charleston with 2,574 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

2,066

Degrees Awarded to Men

2,806

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 2,066 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Charleston, SC, which is 0.736 times less than the 2,806 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.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
3,876 degrees awarded
Black or African American
366 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
210 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Charleston, SC were to White students. These 3,876 degrees mean that there were 10.6 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 366 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Charleston, SC was $308,100 in 2018, which is 1.34 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $286,200 to $308,100, a 7.65% increase. The homeownership rate in Charleston, SC is 55.1%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Charleston, SC have an average commute time of 21.2 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.

Housing

Property Value

$308,100

2018 Median

± $7,994

$286,200

2017 Median

± $5,893

In 2018, the median property value in Charleston, SC grew to to $308,100 from the previous year's value of $286,200.

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 N/A range.

Household Income

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

$64,599

Median Household Income

± $1,900

55k

Number of Households

± 1,567

In 2018, the median household income of the 55k households in Charleston, SC grew to $64,599 from the previous year's value of $61,367.

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.

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.

Rent vs Own

55.1%

2018 Homeownership

54.4%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 55.1% of the housing units in Charleston, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 54.4%.

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.

Commute Time

21.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Charleston, SC have a shorter commute time (21.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 1.32% 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.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
77%
Worked At Home
6.53%
Carpooled
6.15%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Charleston, SC was Drove Alone (77%), followed by those who Worked At Home (6.53%) and those who Carpooled (6.15%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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.

Health

91.8% of the population of Charleston, SC has health coverage, with 55.6% on employee plans, 8.83% on Medicaid, 9.71% on Medicare, 15.3% on non-group plans, and 2.25% on military or VA plans.

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

Primary care physicians in Charleston County, SC see 808 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.28% increase from the previous year (790 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 972 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 322 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 country level. Showing data for Charleston County, SC.

808 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Charleston County, SC

Primary care physicians in Charleston County, SC see an average of 808 patients per year. This represents a 2.28% increase from the previous year (790 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Charleston County, SC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
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.

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 in South Carolina

$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.

Health Care Coverage

8.23%

Uninsured

55.6%

Employer Coverage

8.83%

Medicaid

9.71%

Medicare

15.3%

Non-Group

2.25%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Charleston, SC declined by 13.6% from 9.52% to 8.23%.

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.