James Island 70 Excellent
James Island Livability #60 ranked city in South Carolina#7,455 ranked city in the USARanks better than 74% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in James Island

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

What's it like Living in James Island?

Located in the state of South Carolina, James Island is a mid-sized city with a population of 12,534 people. The majority of James Island residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in James Island, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 23 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in James Island could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Carolina if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, health & safety, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in James Island and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare James Island to South Carolina and the national average.

With a livability score of 71 out of 100, James Island is ranked #6,095 in the United States and #43 in South Carolina. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that James Island has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A-), employment (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that James Island scores poorly for, including: amenities (F) and education (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that James Island has an unemployment rate of 1.2% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their James Island apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in James Island. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in James Island are affordable. Median real estate prices in James Island come in at $627,106, which is 141.1% higher than the South Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In James Island, the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 36.8% higher than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around James Island

See all the best places to live around James Island

How Do You Rate The Livability In James Island?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare James Island, SC Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      James Island transportation information

      Statistic James Island South Carolina National
      Average one way commute23min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.9%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.5%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.6%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.3%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home7.7%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The James Island, SC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.