Metro area profile · South Carolina
Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 889,263
- +10.7% since 2020
- Households
- 335,865
- Median household income
- $85,254
- +33.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $377,500
- Jobs located here
- 390,960
- Highest market score
- 80
- Electricians, #9 of 383 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 889,263 people live in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, in 335,865 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Charleston-North Charleston metro area grew 10.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area is $85,254 a year, 6% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 33.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (87).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area are for electricians (80), laundromats (78) and child care centers and preschools (76). The Charleston-North Charleston metro area ranks #9 of 383 scored metro areas for electricians.
The Charleston-North Charleston metro area takes in 3 counties: Charleston County, Berkeley County and Dorchester County. For its number of households, the Charleston-North Charleston metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for laundromats (25% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Charleston-North Charleston metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 80 | #9 of 383 | 72 | 2.1 | $14.5M | 120 | 181 |
| Laundromats | 78 | #23 of 364 | 40 | 1.2 | $17.1M | 137 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 76 | #31 of 387 | 148 | 4.4 | $1.2M | 120 | 167 |
| Gas stations | 74 | #43 of 387 | 340 | 10.1 | $2.8M | 119 | 249 |
| Roofing and gutters | 73 | #33 of 381 | 129 | 3.8 | $8.1M | 95 | 49 |
| Auto repair shops | 73 | #44 of 387 | 594 | 17.7 | $516K | 116 | 276 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 73 | #53 of 385 | 193 | 5.7 | $2.8M | 94 | 299 |
| Home repair trades | 72 | #30 of 387 | 443 | 13.2 | $2.4M | 97 | 505 |
| Auto repair and car care | 71 | #49 of 387 | 1,034 | 30.8 | $297K | 110 | 424 |
| Pizza | 71 | #56 of 387 | 246 | 7.3 | $5.6M | 110 | 669 |
| Insurance agencies | 71 | #74 of 387 | 481 | 14.3 | $1.7M | 136 | 345 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 69 | #80 of 387 | 454 | 13.5 | $3M | 100 | 669 |
| Tire shops | 68 | #86 of 386 | 108 | 3.2 | $2.8M | 113 | 43 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #74 of 387 | 375 | 11.2 | $3.7M | 99 | 158 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 66 | #89 of 381 | 84 | 2.5 | $3.7M | 118 | 72 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 64 | #81 of 387 | 242 | 7.2 | $4.3M | 90 | 275 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 64 | #87 of 387 | 340 | 10.1 | $4.1M | 98 | 173 |
| Pet stores | 62 | #107 of 382 | 69 | 2.1 | $4.8M | 106 | 35 |
| Funeral homes | 61 | #118 of 377 | 59 | 1.8 | $719K | 106 | 31 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 58 | #109 of 290 | 28 | 0.8 | $11M | 80 | 22 |
| Convenience stores | 58 | #153 of 387 | 340 | 10.1 | $6.2M | 79 | 83 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 57 | #138 of 387 | 392 | 11.7 | $1.4M | 81 | 623 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 56 | #164 of 387 | 691 | 20.6 | $3.1M | 91 | 242 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #159 of 387 | 427 | 12.7 | $773K | 88 | 229 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 55 | #161 of 386 | 156 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 83 | 85 |
| House cleaning | 54 | #144 of 375 | 103 | 3.1 | $5.2M | 81 | 239 |
| Home inspectors | 53 | #112 of 243 | 30 | 0.9 | Index only | 69 | 20 |
| Dry cleaners | 53 | #133 of 272 | 45 | 1.3 | $15.2M | 97 | 38 |
| Grocery stores | 53 | #187 of 387 | 229 | 6.8 | $9.3M | 100 | 159 |
| Car washes and detailing | 52 | #180 of 387 | 126 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 97 | 66 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #206 of 387 | 188 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 75 | 75 |
| Barbershops | 48 | #212 of 387 | 193 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 89 | 26 |
| Veterinarians | 48 | #212 of 384 | 163 | 4.9 | $2M | 74 | 109 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #227 of 387 | 238 | 7.1 | $1.7M | 95 | 630 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 46 | #217 of 387 | 4,093 | 121.9 | $337K | 91 | 1,719 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #233 of 387 | 251 | 7.5 | $1.3M | 77 | 74 |
| Pest control | 42 | #231 of 345 | 96 | 2.9 | $5.6M | 54 | 85 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 42 | #258 of 387 | 738 | 22.0 | $927K | 73 | 397 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 42 | #262 of 387 | 992 | 29.5 | $690K | 78 | 452 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 42 | #266 of 387 | 2,334 | 69.5 | $591K | 89 | 879 |
| Gyms | 42 | #267 of 387 | 310 | 9.2 | $922K | 71 | 121 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 42 | #274 of 387 | 605 | 18.0 | $472K | 71 | 196 |
| Hair salons | 41 | #290 of 387 | 944 | 28.1 | $344K | 80 | 256 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 40 | #299 of 387 | 1,931 | 57.5 | $168K | 79 | 455 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #285 of 387 | 468 | 13.9 | $857K | 87 | 338 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #304 of 387 | 495 | 14.7 | $656K | 75 | 96 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 38 | #282 of 347 | 107 | 3.2 | $2.7M | 66 | 121 |
| Physical therapy | 38 | #286 of 386 | 237 | 7.1 | $1.7M | 70 | 153 |
| Property management | 38 | #289 of 374 | 156 | 4.6 | Index only | 62 | 257 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 38 | #297 of 387 | 3,267 | 97.3 | $123K | 80 | 1,354 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 38 | #297 of 386 | 189 | 5.6 | $2.1M | 68 | 60 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 36 | #155 of 197 | 25 | 0.7 | $16M | 65 | 47 |
| Chiropractors | 36 | #307 of 386 | 270 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 62 | 126 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 34 | #331 of 373 | 248 | 7.4 | Index only | 56 | 112 |
| Real estate | 34 | #350 of 387 | 2,046 | 60.9 | Index only | 61 | 1,432 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 34 | #350 of 387 | 1,612 | 48.0 | Index only | 61 | 832 |
Household spending in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $306.8M | $913 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $963.2M | $2,868 | 110 |
| Food away from home | $1.4B | $4,104 | 101 |
| Groceries | $2.1B | $6,319 | 100 |
| Personal care products and services | $324.7M | $967 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $178.7M | $532 | 92 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $285.8M | $851 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $401M | $1,194 | 93 |
| Pets | $330.1M | $983 | 108 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $684.4M | $2,038 | 99 |
| Vehicle insurance | $819.4M | $2,440 | 125 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $1B | $3,101 | 103 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $533.1M | $1,587 | 112 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $5.4B | $16,063 | 96 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 889,263+10.7% since 2020
- Households
- 335,865
- Median age
- 39.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 69%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 2,590 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 322
- Median household income
- $85,254+33.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $118,282
- Median home value
- $377,500
- Jobs located here
- 390,960
- Daytime population
- 849,978Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area 3
- Charleston County, SC420,264 people
- Berkeley County, SC246,802 people
- Dorchester County, SC167,201 people
Other markets based in South Carolina 12
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area961,939 people
- Columbia, SC metro area849,181 people
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area383,016 people
- Spartanburg, SC metro area374,737 people
- Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area227,455 people
- Florence, SC metro area199,675 people
- Sumter, SC metro area104,725 people
- Greenwood, SC area93,909 people
- Orangeburg, SC area83,253 people
- Seneca, SC area80,469 people
- Murrells Inlet, SC area64,811 people
- Gaffney, SC area56,647 people
Questions
How fast is the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Charleston-North Charleston metro area at 889,263 people in 2025, up 10.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 335,865 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 33.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area spend?
Households in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area spend about $5.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $2.1B on groceries and $1.4B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (87).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, electricians (80), laundromats (78) and child care centers and preschools (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For electricians, that ranks #9 of 383 scored metro areas.
How does the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area is $85,254, 6% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 10.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $377,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for laundromats (25% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in South Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Charleston-North Charleston metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.