Name: Charleston, SC
Rating: 0.0

Get crime, demographics and other data for any location in Charleston, SC

( 39 Ratings )

Living in Charleston, SC

Ranks better than 77% of areas Follow

Population

137,041

Median Age

35.3 Years

Charleston Area Facts

Charleston has a Livability Score of 77_/100, which is considered exceptional
Charleston crime rates are 11% lower than the South Carolina average
Cost of living in Charleston is 31% higher than the South Carolina average

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What do the locals think about Charleston?

61%

Family friendly

30%

Public transit is accessible

42%

Walkable to grocery stores

33%

Yards are well-kept

64%

Lots of parks

58%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

39%

A quiet area

52%

Sense of community

Based on 33 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Charleston Reviews

Write a review about Charleston Tell people what you like or don't like about Charleston…

Past its prime 1.5 rating By Anonymous ( Aug 18, 2025) Figured I'd drop a review since I've used areavibes religiously for the past 5 years while moving around the country and think the ratings are pretty accurate. Charleston is a complicated area so here's my breakdown. I currently live in West Ashley and work downtown, less than 5 ...Read More miles between the two and if I leave work any time after 4:00pm it takes me an hour to get home. That's because the city was designed with 500K people in mind, 2023 the pop was 750K. A lot of the surface street traffic could be solved with traffic studies, updated stop lights, and minor renovation projects but the city has failed to do so. The highway traffic is a different issue because of the ports moving goods in and out via 18-wheelers 24 hours a day.

My family and I moved here from San Diego at the end of 2023 thinking cost of living would be better but gas and groceries are about all we got. Our car insurance went up, beer/wine is about 20% more expensive than CA, eating out is just as expensive, and a decent house (Summerville area) is $350K+ with 6.25% interest, but my salary went down (government employee). I did do some research on the area before moving here so I should have known better but what I knew about Charleston was from 2015 so I ignored the red flags.

I titled this review "Past its prime" because Charleston USED to be a hidden gem providing affordability and culture, but the last 10 years it’s seen a population boom and the city just dropped the ball handling it. Investors are packing apartment buildings into every nook with no consideration for infrastructure and buying up all the single-family households to turn into forever rentals.

Compared to San Diego and Seattle the homelessness is a joke, however there are a lot of "sketchy" people who may not be homeless but are definitely up to no good especially downtown. North Charleston is a total dump and has some really bad areas. A cop told me the city has been actively suppressing bad press related to crime because they don't want to scare people out of moving here. I haven’t felt horribly unsafe and we haven’t had any crime issues but if you’re in the wrong are it can definitely be a problem.

There are a few good schools here and there but if you’re not zoned for them your choices are limited. As I’m sure with most areas childcare is pretty tough, I have a 2 year old son and the wait list for decent daycares are 2 years. The one we got him into cost $300 a week and he spent 3 months on antibiotics after his 6 week stay. That could just be every kid’s experience but the facility was old and not very clean in my opinion.

Charleston is known for its food scene and while there are some good restaurants there isn’t much variety. You’ve got BBQ, southern homestyle, or bar food. Everything closes at 8 and 9pm on the weekends, and waffle house is the only thing open 24 hours. Another scene Charleston is “supposedly” known for is their craft beer and I love good beer so this one really hit home for me. Coming from San Diego, Seattle, and Florida every brewery was top notch because the competition is so high, but Charleston somehow falls short again. And this isn’t just my opinion, I’ve had several people from St Louis, Georgia, and Miami tell me the exact same thing: “95% of these breweries would go under where I’m from”. Frothy Beard & Edmunds Oast are my go-to and after talking to one of the master brewers at Frothy he explained to me that most breweries around here use the same yeast for all their varieties which results in a bland similar taste across the board. It’s frustrating to see the pride in Charleston’s beer scene when I know better. Coffee shops have a similar story, the decent ones are downtown, wildly expensive, and always packed. I’ve tried to find good pastries and came up empty handed even at the highly rated spots. My guess is the bar for “good” has been mediocre for so long that people just got used to subpar standards.

Depending on where you’re coming from, entertainment will be a hit or miss. The Riverdogs and the Citadel are the only sports teams, historical tours, the beach, and a small concert venue are your only form of entertainment. So if you’re looking for big city attractions you’ll have to travel. I grew up in the panhandle of FL where the beaches are unmatched so the beaches around here don’t interest me much but if that’s something your into there’s plenty of coastline to explore.

If you don’t already know this is the South, be prepared for humid summers and wet winters. The heat index was 111 a few weeks ago and last winter the whole city froze under ice. I personally don’t mind the weather, but I wanted to mention it because your electric bill could suffer. Ours hits $250 every month (1200sqft) in the summer because our A/c runs constantly. To be fair though, we’re in an older apartment so if your place has energy efficient windows/doors, a good design, and zone-controlled HVAC that may not be the case.

The politics of the area seem balanced enough. Maybe red heavy, but I haven’t seen any nooses or “kill whitey” signs hanging off the side of buildings or anything. We did have a bad experience with some white kids passing by my family and I on a boat where they shouted the “N” word at us (she’s mixed I’m white) but I’ve experienced open racism in CA so how much weight do I put on that? Kids looking to get a rise out of someone? In the words of Tom Segura, “people suck”. One thing I did not expect was the size of the LGBTQ community in Charleston, so if that’s a consideration for you one way or the other just know it’s here.

Altogether, it really depends on where your moving here from and your budget. If you’re moving in from a small po-dunk town Charleston will be great but if you’re coming from a bigger city with more to offer understand the downshift. Personally, I’m ready to find greener pastures… Read Less

Worst place I ever lived 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 14, 2022) We lived in Charleston for 2 years and we hated it there. We lived in North Charleston and Goose Creek for a year each. I worked in both Mount Pleasant and Summerville. Traffic is horrible and the worst I ever experienced. I lived in the Dallas, TX area for 6 years and it wasn't ...Read More this bad. It doesn't matter what day it is, you'll be stuck in traffic. Everything is extremely annoying to drive to due to the lack of roads and alternate ways you can go. I guess if you're one of the rich professionals who lives and works in Mount Pleasant, then you probably don't have any complaints. Basically, there's an expensive part of the area towards the beach where all the doctors and other rich people live. Everywhere else is basically low income and ghetto. There's not really a middle class area. We are a middle class family, but could not find a nice neighborhood to live in. The cost of living was very high for being in a crappy house in a crappy neighborhood. In both neighborhoods we lived in, you couldn't go on walks without some stray dogs chasing after you! Many people had trash in their yards. It was just very indicative of a poorly managed city.

I loved my job, but we had to get out of there. We sent my son to a charter school in Goose Creek, in hopes that it would be better than the terrible public schools. It wasn't so we took him out to homeschool right before we left. Don't move here. It might be okay to visit as a tourist, but don't live here. Read Less

The worst place ever 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Mar 24, 2020) This place is a high crime/low income nightmare. they have no attractions, no shopping malls, no entertainment. The crime goes mostly unreported. We have had at least 9 shootings near our home in "the nice area" in less than a year. The locals are extremely rude. The education is ...Read More non existent. I fear for children growing up here because the access to decent education is scary. We have lived in all of the suburbs (mt pleasant, west Ashley....) and now live downtown. It is a living nightmare. The summer is so hot its unlivable and most restaurants are so hot during the summer because the air con can't keep up. We have never felt safe here. No one uses a leash to walk dogs, our dogs have been attacked many times. DO NOT MOVE HERE. It is a nightmare. everyone is broke. No decent jobs. Its the worst of the worst. Do not believe anything else you read about this place, Its all a lie. Read Less

Can I give this place less stars? 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 21, 2019) You really don’t have a food place open 24 hours? With a city this crowded?! There’s nothing to do here besides go out and drink if that’s your scene, no theme parks, no laser tag places. Rivers Ave is a good place to stumble into the wrong kinds of people. Multiple times I ...Read More ’ve run into some aggressive homeless people that seemed intent to take what I had simply because I wasn’t carrying cash to help them. Traffic is God awful, and the people over here for the most part are terrible. Literally the worst city I have ever lived in. Stay away if you can Read Less

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The worst place ever 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Mar 24, 2020) This place is a high crime/low income nightmare. they have no attractions, no shopping malls, no entertainment. The crime goes mostly unreported. We have had at least 9 shootings near our home in "the nice area" in less than a year. The locals are extremely rude. The education is ...Read More non existent. I fear for children growing up here because the access to decent education is scary. We have lived in all of the suburbs (mt pleasant, west Ashley....) and now live downtown. It is a living nightmare. The summer is so hot its unlivable and most restaurants are so hot during the summer because the air con can't keep up. We have never felt safe here. No one uses a leash to walk dogs, our dogs have been attacked many times. DO NOT MOVE HERE. It is a nightmare. everyone is broke. No decent jobs. Its the worst of the worst. Do not believe anything else you read about this place, Its all a lie. Read Less

Can I give this place less stars? 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 21, 2019) You really don’t have a food place open 24 hours? With a city this crowded?! There’s nothing to do here besides go out and drink if that’s your scene, no theme parks, no laser tag places. Rivers Ave is a good place to stumble into the wrong kinds of people. Multiple times I ...Read More ’ve run into some aggressive homeless people that seemed intent to take what I had simply because I wasn’t carrying cash to help them. Traffic is God awful, and the people over here for the most part are terrible. Literally the worst city I have ever lived in. Stay away if you can Read Less

Forgot To Mention Traffic and Accidents 1 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 21, 2019) The drivers in this city are God awful. You could count the number of seconds on your hand before an accident occurs here, signaling is disgraceful in this area and my goodness, the traffic is horrendous. I could walk the length of a block in NYC before I make it past a few light ...Read More s on Rivers Ave or Dorchester Road. Terrible city planning to say the least. Make sure your insurance is up to date and be very careful driving. You know it’s bad when local cops have it plastered on their cars “Target: 0 traffic deaths”. Driving here is borderline life-risking. Read Less

Nonexistent Late Eats 2 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 21, 2019) ...Read More Read Less

Living in Charleston 3 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 10, 2018) Most people have heard Charleston is a beautiful city. Charleston is unquestionably beautiful and needs to be seen by all. Bear in mind that the entire area is built around sucking you dry of money. From your air plane ticket, food, hotel, and attractions, plan on overspending ...Read More . Walking is free, but nothing else is reasonably priced. Don't wear your heels, ladies! You will likely stumble and fall on the uneven sidewalks or the passed out drunks after the bars close. Did I mention how disgustingly hot it is in July and August? After spending an evening downtown, you may lose your sense of direction and find yourself driving on "Rivers Avenue.", a long stretch of road that will have you believing you are driving thru the set of "The Walking Dead". Lock your doors and keep driving, even if the light is red. Parking downtown is a hassle and it is getting more crowded everyday. Contributing factors for bad traffic include horse carriages pulling lazy tourists, narcissistic millennials taking selfies in the middle of the street, and junk cars driven by rednecks that break down in the middle of the road. You see, there are no emission laws here so you can smoke up the state with your polluting "puzzle piece" of a car that you resurrected from LKQ. In closing, Charleston is a good place to visit, but don't plan on spending much time here. Southern cooked meals will make you sick and fat. Be on the lookout for palmetto bugs, a southern euphemism for the giant flying coach roach that inhabits Charleston. You may find them walking on the wall of a restaurant or scurrying under your bathroom cabinet. They won't hesitate to drop on your head or run across your toes in the middle of the night. For this reason, it is my recommendation to travel with a man so he will do his duty of disposing the cockroach for you. Read Less

They Mean Whites Only 0.5 rating By Yawud EL ( May 01, 2018) Charleston and the surrounding areas or counties, no matter how much they build or the events they put on will always display their hidden racism. White Supremacy is alive and well here. Just go to downtown Charleston, the building is Gentrification and they are making the local ...Read More economy an uneven playing field and moving at such an expedited rate that the Black Man will have no home in this city and that is the end goal. If White Supremacy was not a propagated agenda they would not build new communities with Plantation in the name. Read Less

Southern Hospitality and affordable 4.5 rating By HerbertB ( Oct 25, 2016) Charleston is everything i thought it would be, quaint in feel but not small and the people are so kind! I never understood Southern Hospitality until I moved here http://www.drhorton.com/South-Carolina/Charleston.aspx it really is amazing! the Prices of everything and the people ...Read More make it a great place to be. Read Less

History, Southern Charm, Beaches, Great Food, and Friendly Smiles 5 rating By wisemanoncesaid ( Mar 24, 2014) Growing up on James Island, I lived in Charleston until I was 19, I then moved away to Houston, TX and have since moved back to the area. The best part about Charleston is this, since I was away for nearly 15 years, when I came back, things had changed. Changed for the BETTER! ...Read More We are now one of the fastest growing relocation cities in America, there are many tech jobs, nursing jobs, Boeing is here, and Google, we didn't have any of this "progress" when I was growing up here. All of this is available now, and yet people will still say hello to you when you pass them on the street. We have some of the best restaurants available, we have miles and miles of ocean front and river front property. We experience mild winters and balmy summers. I love Charleston, I have lived in many places, including Charleston's sister city Savannah, and by far Charleston tops my list. Read Less

Charleston, SC - Caught Between the Past and the Future 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jun 25, 2010) After settling into my new job in Charleston, South Carolina, this Yankee ventured out with a little trepidation. After all, for some in this area of the country the War still isn't over. Reminders of this are everywhere, in the people you meet, the way the city is still divided ...Read More along racial lines, and the critical role Charleston played during that period in our history. Fort Sumter, where it all began, still guards the city's Atlantic entrance. But I soon warmed to the Southern hospitality and charm I encountered everywhere, and settled into my role as a tolerated foreigner.

There is much to recommend in Charleston. The cost of living is probably half that of the west coast or northeast. Sandy beaches are a short distance away, and the drive presents a beautiful tapestry of salt marshes, inland waterways, drawbridges, marinas, and ocean views. The city of Charleston itself is a patchwork of more modern and pre-Revolutionary War buildings, with a definite European feel, accessed by driving or strolling down tree-lined cobblestone or brick streets. If you're into music, art, festivals, antiques, boating, history, fishing, or eating in the countless very good restaurants the city of Charleston offers, boredom will never be a problem. Read Less

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Charleston, SC

Charleston is a charming city in South Carolina that is often visited by tourists traveling to the beaches of the state. An abundance of history resides in the city in the form of historic homes, churches, and statues. Many people find that it's difficult to leave the city once they arrive due to the friendliness shown by residents as well as the beauty of the area. King Street is one of the areas in Charleston where many people go when they want peaceful surroundings or even when they want to retire. Known as the Holy City, Charleston has several churches of various denominations and is the location of where the Order of Secession singing took place.

Before you even arrive in Charleston, you'll see the steeples of churches against the background of the sky. Many churches in the city have been in the area for hundreds of years, adding their own touch to the history that the city offers. Some of the steeples were once used as lighthouses for those in the Confederacy. In 1670, the city was formally founded by Protestants. Over the years, more religious groups have been accepted into the city. Even though there are quite a few different religions in Charleston, everyone comes together in a way that is beautiful so that they support the residents and the tourists who visit the area.

A large number of homes in the city have stood the test of time as they have endured everything from hurricanes to floods. After Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the American College of Building Arts helped residents rebuild their homes due to a lack of artisans who were available to offer assistance. The Citadel is also located in Charleston.

Since there are so many city streets to navigate, the best method of transportation is walking. It can be quite difficult to find a parking space and to secure a space even when one is found because of the tight quarters of the streets. Another option is riding a bicycle. There are numerous locations where you can securely park your bike while shopping, eating at one of the restaurants or cafes, or taking a stroll through one of the parks.

When searching for a home to move to, consider venturing away from the historic area of the city. Homes that are only a short distance from downtown are often larger and are usually less expensive. Popular areas include Mount Pleasant and Johns Island. Beach access is less than 30 minutes from the city, which is why it's an area tourists travel through when they go to other beaches on the east coast. Fishing is a popular activity that residents and visitors enjoy as well as hiking at Waterfront Park.