Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

North Charleston, SC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

117,460

Median Agei

34.3

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

41.6%48,861

White

37%43,509

Hispanic/Latino

12.8%15,065

Two or More

3.6%4,234

Asian

3.5%4,094

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.7%875

Other

0.6%763

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%59

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.9%3,910

High School Diploma

21.7%17,174

Some College (<1 yr)

5.6%4,440

Some College (1+ yr)

16.4%13,017

Associate's Degree

10.1%8,035

Bachelor's Degree

18.2%14,420

Master's Degree

7.7%6,074

Professional Degree

1.3%1,061

Doctorate

0.8%647

HS or Higher

86.7%

BA or Higher

28%

Graduate+

9.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$267,700

Median Renti

$1,364

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

48.5%23,058

Renter-Occupied

51.5%24,470

Total Units

53,133

Homeownership

48.5%

Vacancy Rate

10.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

6.6%1,532

$50K–$100K

4.4%1,007

$100K–$150K

9.3%2,146

$150K–$200K

11.1%2,549

$200K–$300K

28.6%6,588

$300K–$500K

32.3%7,446

$500K–$1M

6.7%1,548

$1M+

1%242

Rent Distribution

Under $500

612

$500–$750

964

$750–$1,000

1,963

$1,000–$1,250

5,544

$1,250–$1,500

6,308

$1,500–$2,000

6,081

$2,000+

2,435

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%920

2010–2019

21.3%11,316

2000–2009

21.5%11,415

1990–1999

10.4%5,517

1980–1989

11.7%6,194

1970–1979

10.9%5,796

1960–1969

8.3%4,399

1950–1959

7.5%3,991

1940–1949

5.7%3,034

1939 or earlier

1%551

Heating Fuel

Electricity

78.2%37,149

Utility Gas

19.7%9,364

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%409

No Fuel

0.6%275

Solar

0.5%254

Fuel Oil

0.1%59

Other

0%18

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$62,789

Mean Household Incomei

$83,910

Per Capita Incomei

$35,740

Poverty Ratei

14.9%

Unemploymenti

4.1%

Labor Forcei

64,482

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6%2,846

$10K–$15K

3.2%1,530

$15K–$20K

3.9%1,843

$20K–$25K

3.6%1,717

$25K–$30K

3.5%1,645

$30K–$35K

5.1%2,418

$35K–$40K

3.7%1,765

$40K–$45K

6.1%2,889

$45K–$50K

3.7%1,741

$50K–$60K

8.9%4,248

$60K–$75K

11.5%5,465

$75K–$100K

13.1%6,223

$100K–$125K

9.4%4,475

$125K–$150K

7%3,320

$150K–$200K

5.4%2,570

$200K+

6%2,833

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

3,301

Residentsi

6,857

Avg. Tenant Renti

$480/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

21 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing39 homes66% occupied$546/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers2,434 homes88% occupied$497/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8509 homes93% occupied$403/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC49 homes94% occupied$352/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $62,789/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

78.2%

Very low income$19K–$31K/yr

17.8%

Low income$31K–$50K/yr

3.9%

Moderate / aboveOver $50K/yr

0.1%

Who Receives This Housing

85.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

92.5% of subsidized households are minority

15.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

26.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

14,27812.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

3,821

Guatemala

1,116

Philippines

606

India

600

China

381

Canada

339

United Kingdom

259

Germany

239

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

60,301

Avg. Commutei

24.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

58,697

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

9,065(10.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

83.2%Insured

16.8%Uninsured