Charleston, SC

Charleston SC scores 75/100 on safety (above average). Crime is about 3% below the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 97 (100 = avg); violent crime index 99; property crime index 95. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Campus scores in the report: Charleston Elementary (elementary) at 7/10; Charleston Middle School (middle) at 7/10; Charleston High School (high) at 8/10. On this 10-point scale, 7 is solidly middle; 9 is a standout.

District picture: about B+ (above average) · Top 35% statewide. Student-teacher staffing: 16:1. If schools drive your move, compare the specific campuses that serve your target address against statewide peers.

Typical rent in Charleston is about $1,787/month (on the high side). At $1,787/month for a typical unit, you need about $64,332+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $438,900.

Median household income is $83,891, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($83,891) clears the $64,332 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 84°F (highs near 90°F, lows near 77°F).

Midafternoon outdoor time is limited most of summer without shade and water. Plan on summer electric bills around $200–$300/month for a typical apartment if you run AC hard. If you visit, go in July or August. That is the real test.

Who tends to thrive in Charleston: (1) Households that want quieter streets (safety sits at 75/100) (2) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and local pay near $83,891 helps carry housing costs) (3) People relocating for a job who can pick a safer ZIP (citywide safety is 75/100) (4) Households earning $64,332+ who can clear the 3× rent rule at $1,787/month

Who should look elsewhere: (1) Anyone stretching past 40% of take-home on housing at $1,787/month (2) Households expecting top marks on rent, safety, and schools at once (Charleston does not clear every bar) (3) People who will not research ZIP-level crime and school maps before leasing

Income sniff test: clear about $64,332 household income for $1,787/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Charleston SC is not worth a speculative move. Come only for a specific job or family reason.

The strongest upside is safety at 75/100 (above what many metros post).

The biggest practical risk is still housing: confirm you can carry $1,787/month plus utilities before you sign.