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Charleston, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Charleston County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
152,014 Population 1,319/sq mi density
$90,038 Median Income $58,583 per capita
$469,100 Home Value $581,145 Zillow
$1,632 Median Rent 31.4% income on rent
67°F Avg Temperature 315 sunny days/yr
373 Violent Crime/100K 2,260 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$90,038 median income, 2.3% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.7 / 5.0
$469,100 home value, $1,632/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
373 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
57.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Charleston enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 54°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 315 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.9 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

54°F Jan (12°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average66.8°F
24% above US avg
January Average54°F (12°C)
July Average82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days315 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3 ft (1 m)
Area109.0 sq mi (282.3 km²)
Population Density1,319/sq mi
Coordinates32.8280°N, 79.9729°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCharleston County County
Nearest AirportCharleston Afb/International (CHS)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 56.9"
50% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Aug) 7.17"
Driest Month (Nov) 2.56"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood
Good Days %73.5%
Unhealthy Days0

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0396 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)6.6 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.41 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.9 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability22.4 / 100
Community Resilience96.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

34 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M3.0 on Mar 19, 2014.

Aug 21, 1992 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M4.1 25 km
Apr 17, 1995 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.9 26 km
Nov 8, 2002 24 km SSE of Kiawah Island, South Carolina M3.5 45 km
Nov 13, 1990 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M3.5 20 km
Aug 29, 2009 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina M3.2 29 km
Jul 20, 2004 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.1 30 km
May 5, 2003 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.1 32 km
Mar 19, 2014 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.0 27 km
Mar 29, 1999 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina M3.0 31 km
Jul 26, 2002 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.0 33 km
Jan 29, 1994 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina M2.9 115 km
Mar 2, 2003 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.9 21 km
Feb 7, 1990 9 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.9 20 km
Jul 7, 2002 1 km NW of Sangaree, South Carolina M2.9 28 km
May 12, 2010 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 19 km
Jul 16, 2002 5 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 20 km
Jul 31, 2012 5 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.8 22 km
Jan 11, 2002 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.7 20 km
May 1, 2004 3 km ENE of Goose Creek, South Carolina M2.7 19 km
Jun 12, 2003 5 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M2.6 29 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

20 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 83 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 82 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 95 km
2018 Florence Category 2 196 km
2016 Matthew Category 3 37 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 141 km
2011 Irene Category 2 281 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 176 km
2004 Charley Category 1 57 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 40 km
2004 Alex Category 1 204 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 144 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 200 km
1999 Irene Category 1 115 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 204 km
1996 Fran Category 3 184 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 156 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 17 km
1985 Bob Category 1 86 km
1984 Diana Category 4 149 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

261 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 103 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 39 km 0
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 95 km 0
Sep 11, 1960 EF3 14 km 0
Apr 5, 2022 EF2 99 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 52 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 99 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 99 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 81 km 0
Sep 24, 2015 EF2 14 km 0
May 11, 2008 EF2 26 km 0
Oct 11, 2002 EF2 87 km 0
Sep 3, 1998 EF2 39 km 0
Sep 3, 1998 EF2 68 km 1
May 10, 1998 EF2 29 km 1
Mar 8, 1998 EF2 76 km 0
Aug 28, 1988 EF2 98 km 1
Sep 4, 1979 EF2 87 km 0
May 4, 1978 EF2 82 km 0
Aug 29, 1964 EF2 8 km 0
Sep 27, 2024 EF1 32 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1886 CHARLESTON, SC Earthquake 8 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (13,429 ac, 2004).

Year Name Acres Distance
2004 UNNAMED 13,429 40 km
2005 UNNAMED 11,023 39 km
2005 UNNAMED 8,560 43 km
2009 UNNAMED 8,439 43 km
1997 MURRELL 5,126 48 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,893 46 km
2014 UNNAMED 4,890 57 km
2008 UNNAMED 4,852 39 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,813 49 km
2016 UNNAMED 4,336 45 km
2010 UNNAMED 4,269 95 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,955 42 km
2010 UNNAMED 3,759 70 km
2010 UNNAMED 3,746 93 km
2003 LITTLE HELLHOLE 3,724 40 km
2009 UNNAMED 3,641 48 km
2015 UNNAMED 3,367 60 km
2017 UNNAMED 3,217 49 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,104 40 km
2017 UNNAMED 3,098 41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 54°F (12°C) 3.8 in
February 51°F (11°C) 3.2 in Coldest
March 58°F (14°C) 4.1 in
April 64°F (18°C) 2.7 in
May 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
June 78°F (26°C) 5.5 in
July 82°F (28°C) 5.9 in Warmest
August 81°F (27°C) 7.2 in Wettest
September 77°F (25°C) 5.7 in
October 67°F (20°C) 3.2 in
November 59°F (15°C) 2.6 in Driest
December 52°F (11°C) 3.1 in

Charleston has a seasonal temperature swing of 30°F / from 51°F in February to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.4 inches, with August being the wettest month (7.2") and November the driest (2.6").

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