North Charleston, South Carolina, known as "The Hub of the Lowcountry," is a dynamic and rapidly growing city located in the Charleston metropolitan area. With its strong economy, diverse population, and rich cultural scene, North Charleston offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of historic charm and modern amenities makes living in North Charleston an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of North Charleston enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, trails, and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The North Charleston Riverfront Park and Wannamaker County Park are popular destinations for hiking, biking, and picnicking. The city also hosts numerous festivals and events, including the annual North Charleston Arts Fest and the High Water Festival.
North Charleston's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, manufacturing, and healthcare. The city is home to major employers such as Boeing and Trident Health, providing ample job opportunities for residents. The North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center is a vibrant commercial hub offering a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
The cost of living in North Charleston is relatively affordable compared to other parts of the Charleston metropolitan area, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals. The housing market includes a variety of options, from historic homes in charming neighborhoods to modern apartments and condos. The city's strong sense of community and welcoming atmosphere further enhance its appeal.
Public transportation in North Charleston is well-developed, with access to CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) buses, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. North Charleston's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, North Charleston offers a blend of economic opportunity, cultural richness, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Ratings
AreaVibes collected feedback from local residents in the area through surveys and polls, and the results did not show a favorable view of things like local amenities and the safety of the area.
Located in the state of South Carolina, North Charleston is a mid-sized city with a population of 113,880 residents. North Charleston is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (44%) and Black or African American (44%). With an average age of 33 years old, North Charleston could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. North Charleston is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 42%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in North Charleston is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 24 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Living in North Charleston can be a great experience for anyone moving to the city. Having said that, in the state of South Carolina, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around North Charleston, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, commute, health & safety and more.
The livability score in North Charleston is 64/100 and the city is ranked in the 58th percentile of all cities across America. Based on the grades for each individual category, North Charleston has been rewarded with high marks for cost of living (A-) and housing (A). Unfortunately for North Charleston, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and crime (F).
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that North Charleston has an unemployment rate of 2.72% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The North Charleston market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in North Charleston is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in North Charleston come in at $184,600, which is 28.6% higher than the South Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In North Charleston, the home price to income ratio is 3.9, which is 25.8% higher than the South Carolina average.
| Statistic | North Charleston | South Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 80.6% | 82.8% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.9% | 0.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.9% | 3.6% | 4.6% |
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