Charleston: Economy & Jobs
$92,414 is the median household income in Charleston (about the same as Charleston County median $88,494; 1.3× higher than South Carolina median $69,324), with homes at a median value of $509,700. The surrounding county supports 66,943 jobs (avg $68,211).
- $77,575 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs South Carolina $75,428).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $92,414 — above the South Carolina median ($66,299). Poverty rate 12.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 46% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 5.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 21.2% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 46.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 12.3% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $119,930 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $9,303,582 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $77,575 (vs South Carolina $75,428) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $102,599 |
| Median Household Income | $92,414 (vs South Carolina $66,299) |
| Poverty Rate | 12.3% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $92,414 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 19% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 24.20 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 19.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 66,943 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $4,566,255,150 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $68,211 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% (vs South Carolina 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 330 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 72,902 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 220.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Nursery Totals, Grain, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 4,079 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 60,525 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,568,867 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 31 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 20 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 27 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 72 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 37 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 110 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 143 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 8 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 24 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLARTREE 10871 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 111 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SEA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $4,577,147,279 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 19,912.67 (vs South Carolina $7,873) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 229,861 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 3 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 66.2% |
| Pct Public Transit | 3.5% |
| Pct Walked | 19.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.6 years (at South Carolina median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.8% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | limited |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12