North Charleston: Demographics & People
About 119,913 people live in North Charleston, in 49,185 households. Population grew 2.1% from 117,460 (2022) to 119,913 (2024). Median age 34.6 years. (4.6y younger than Charleston County; 2.3y younger than South Carolina). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 41% Black and 38% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.63). 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 17,858 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs South Carolina avg 2.5).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs South Carolina 38%).
- 52 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs South Carolina 68).
Population & Trend
Population grew 2.1% from 117,460 (2022) to 119,913 (2024) — about 3.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~122,432 (extrapolated at 1.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 125,844.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 229,861 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 2.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 117,460 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 119,913 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 119,913 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
| Population Estimate | 125,844 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 34.6y is 4.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 34.6 years (vs South Carolina 36.9y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 119,913 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 26,276 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 34,406.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 44,280.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 14,951 |
| Population under 18 | 26,276 |
| Median age | 34.6 years (vs South Carolina 36.9y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 119,913 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.63 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 45,877 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 49,610 |
| Asian residents | 4,112 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 15,065 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 63.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 43.3% |
| Asian population | 3.1% (vs South Carolina 1.8%) |
| Black population | 41.3% (vs South Carolina 21.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 12.9% (vs South Carolina 6.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 38.0% (vs South Carolina 60.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 11% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 62,090 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 42,672 |
| Share born in this state | 51.8% |
| Share born in another state | 48.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 35.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 11.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 12,166 |
| From Europe | 1,215 |
| From Africa | 3,122 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 49 |
Households & Family Composition
49,185 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 25,793 families, 25% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 26,492 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 25,793 |
| Married couples with children | 6,471 |
| Single-parent households | 607 |
| Average household size | 2.39 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 2,742 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 816 |
| Family households | 27,351 households (vs South Carolina 5,968) |
| Households that are families | 55.6% (vs South Carolina 61.8%) |
| Total households | 49,185 households (vs South Carolina 9,745) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 17.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 17,858 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 256,834 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 238,976 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 17,858 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 5,855 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.3% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3,757 residents live in group quarters (3.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3,757 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 45015 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 45 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 015 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Berkeley |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 16.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 19.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 45015 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Berkeley County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 5,908 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 45015 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Berkeley County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 55.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 40.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 227,907 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 32 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 24 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 119,913, growing, young professional, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 119,913 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
| Town Summary · County | Berkeley County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade