Charleston, SC Economic Development
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Charleston Facts
Strong, Diverse Population GrowthThe Charleston lifestyle has been discovered, with a steady stream of newcomers boosting the region's population to more than 600,000. Many of these new residents are highly educated and seeking employment. Many others bring with them thriving businesses of their own. All add to the unique flavor and energy of this historic coastal city. |
 
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Charleston-N. Charleston MSA
| Population and Demographics1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2000 | 2006 | % change 2000-2006 | 2010 projection |
| Charleston-N. Charleston MSA | 549,033 | 603,178 | 9.9% | 623,680 |
| Population by Age | 2000 | 2006 | ||
| 19 or younger | 29.2% | 28.1% | ||
| 20-24 | 7.7% | 7.2% | ||
| 25-34 | 14.7% | 13.3% | ||
| 35-54 | 29.5% | 29.0% | ||
| 55-64 | 8.5% | 11.5% | ||
| 65+ | 10.4% | 10.9% | ||
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.7 | ||
| Population by Gender | 2000 | 2006 | ||
| Male | 49.1 | 48.5% | ||
| Female | 50.9 | 51.5% | ||
| Population by Race | 2000 | 2006 | ||
| White | 65.1% | 65.8% | ||
| Black or African-American | 30.8% | 29.4% | ||
| Asian | 1.3% | 1.6% | ||
| Other | 2.8% | 3.2% | ||
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race)2 | 2.4% | 2.9% | ||
| Households | 2000 | 2006 | ||
| Total Households | 207,957 | 234,389 | ||
| Median Household Income | $39,491 | $46,421 | ||
| Average Household Income | $51,315 | $64,131 | ||
| Educational Attainment | 2000 | 2006 | ||
| High school diploma (or equivalent) or higher | 81.3% | 87% | ||
| Bachelors degree or higher | 25% | 28.6% | ||
| Advanced degree | 8.7% | 9.9% | ||
Notes & Sources:
(1) U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey and 2000 Census; 2010 population projections from SC Budget and Control Board, Office of Research & Statistics
(2) Persons of Hispanic/Latino origin may be of any race
Household Growth Rate 2000-2006
| Charleston MSA | South Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households (2006) | 234,389 | 1,656,978 | 111,617,402 |
| Household Growth Rate 2000-2006 | 12.7% | 8.0% | 5.8% |
| Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2006 | |||
Household Income Growth: 2000-2006
| Median Household Income (2000) | Median Household Income (2006) | Median Percent Growth 2000-2006 | Average Household Income (2000) | Average Household Income (2006) | Average Percent Growth 2000-2006 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston MSA | $39,491 | $46,421 | 17.5% | $51,312 | $64,131 | 25.0% |
| South Carolina | $37,082 | $41,100 | 10.8% | $48,349 | $55,128 | 14.0% |
| United States | $41,994 | $48,451 | 15.4% | $56,643 | $65,527 | 15.7% |
| Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2006 | ||||||
Charleston is a top 10 U.S. metro in terms of percentage growth of college-educated residents (census 1990 to 2000 comparisons). This parallels a significant increase in household income.
The percentage of Charleston area residents holding at least a bachelor's degree is higher than that for the U.S. overall.
Increase in Educational Attainment 1990-2000
| Top 10 U.S. Metros | Change in BA/BS or Higher | Income Growth |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 8.70% | 21.50% |
| San Jose, CA | 7.9 | 18.1 |
| Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC | 7.2 | 13.1 |
| Boston, MA | 7.2 | 12.3 |
| Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, NJ | 7.2 | 9.4 |
| Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC | 6.9 | 17.9 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 6.4 | 15 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA | 6.4 | 14.5 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 6.1 | 17.9 |
| Baltimore, MD | 6.1 | 9.3 |
| National Median | 3.7 | 12.5 |
| Source: CEOs for Cities | ||
The percentage of Charleston area residents holding at least a bachelor's degree is higher than that for the U.S. overall.
2006 Educational Attainment / % of Population 25+
| United States | South Carolina | Charleston MSA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent or higher | 84.1% | 81.3% | 86.5% |
| Hold a bachelors degree or higher | 27.0% | 22.7% | 28.3% |
| Hold an advanced degree | 9.9% | 7.9% | 9.1% |
| Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2006 | |||
Greater Charleston's growing international community is reflected in the increasing numbers of foreign-born residents. Although these residents made up the smallest component of population growth between 2000 and 2005, they accounted for 10.2% of the area's overall population increase. This is in keeping with Charleston's expanding base of foreign-owned companies.
