Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Charleston County, SC

Welcome to Charleston County.

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Charleston County is the third most populous in the state of South Carolina, representing 8% of the state's population, but the largest in geographic area of coverage.

Total GDP for the county increased 35%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $41.1 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Charleston County voted four out of six times for Democrats and two times for Republican candidates.

Charleston County comprises Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Charleston.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Berkeley County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, and Georgetown County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
44.42%52.23%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
46.77%51.57%+
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
53.55%45.21%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
50.39%48.01%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
50.64%42.78%+
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
55.49%42.63%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%35%
Government
Enterprises
17%20%
Private Industries83%38%
Agriculture<1%14%
Mining<1%252%
Utilities<1%31%
Construction6%30%
Manufacturing8%23%
– Durable6%32%
– Nondurable2%2%
Trade11%49%
– Wholesale4%67%
– Retail7%40%
Transportation4%70%
Information3%9%
Finance & Insurance5%42%
Real Estate15%47%
Professional &
Business Services
13%45%
Educational Services1%36%
Healthcare &
Social Services
8%30%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%33%
Accommodation &
Food Services
6%25%
Other Services22%43%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers7687
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
12589
📺 Electronics & Appliance3581
🛒 Grocery Stores20092
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores7387
⚕️ Health & Personal Care19191
⛽ Gasoline Stations13390
👕 Clothing Stores30292
👠 Shoe Stores5383
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry5883
🏸 Sporting Goods3680
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1672
🏬 Department Stores8490
💐 Florists2886
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops5787
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 2372
🍺 Bars & Taverns8890
🍽️ Full-service restaurants63494
🍔 Limited-service restaurants40691
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers59694
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation17294
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%121%$300,200 N/A
Top 20%50%$180,100 $177,200
Next highest 20%24%$89,000 $112,900
Middle 20%15%$55,800 $72,000
Second lowest 20%8%$29,500 $39,900
Bottom 20%3%Below $10,000$19,200
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries65%$74,400
Self-Employment7%$57,500
Investment Income112%$11,800
Social Security41%$22,000
Supplemental Security10%$12,100
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement30%$22,500
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%4%5%6%
$25K
– $49K
1%6%5%6%
$50K
– $99K
1%11%8%7%
$100K
– $199K
<1%11%9%5%
$200K
& more
<1%5%7%3%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$52,800 $34,900
African-American$33,600 $21,800
Hispanic$41,800 $28,800
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$33,100 $20,800
Highschool & GED$50,300 $21,800
Some College to
Associate’s
$42,700 $31,800
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$92,500 $36,400
Graduate Degree$55,300 $66,000
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$65,900 $42,000
STEM2$81,000 $55,600
Gray-Collar3
Pink-Collar4$11,800
Sales5$35,900 $21,800
Blue-Collar6$36,000 $25,300
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding++$
Cold Waves
Drought+
Earthquake+++$$
Hail++$
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+$$$
Ice Storm++
Landslide+
Lightning+++$
Riverine Flooding++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires++$
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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