With 27 incorporated communities, residential areas range from the rural towns of Jamestown and St. George to the vibrant, urban areas of Charleston and North Charleston. The growing demand for housing has spawned a number of new residential opportunities throughout the region, and most price ranges are well represented. For current residential real estate listings, visit the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

Charleston S.C. MSA Residential Home Sales by Zip Code Area

Area Name	Zip Code	Residential Units Sold, 2008	Median Selling Price, 2008	Average Selling Price, 2008
Total Charleston S.C. MSA		8,689	$202,000	$294,604
Adams Run	29426	3	$153,163	$178,054
Awendaw	29429	4	$693,750	$708,750
Bonneau	29431	41	$119,000	$166,112
Charleston Peninsula	29401	140	$772,500	$1,173,870
Charleston Peninsula	29403	209	$320,000	$375,071
Cross	29436	15	$55,000	$85,940
Daniel Island/ Wando/Cainhoy	29492	323	$366,739	$472,824
Dorchester	29437	5	$93,500	$144,680
Edisto Island	29438	55	$450,000	$514,322
Folly Beach	29439	58	$499,000	$617,189
Goose Creek	29445	747	$159,304	$169,867
Hanahan	29410	207	$205,981	$203,786
Harleyville	29448	1	$68,001	$68,001
Hollywood	29449	32	$199,950	$361,313
Huger	29450	7	$175,100	$308,721
Isle Of Palms	29451	165	$870,900	$992,367
James Island	29412	451	$246,900	$277,873
Jamestown	29453	4	$149,190	$238,344
Johns Island	29455	305	$159,990	$451,524
Ladson	29456	423	$152,500	$154,742
McClellanville	29458	12	$185,000	$214,942
Moncks Corner	29461	363	$171,697	$179,869
Mount Pleasant	29464	696	$316,250	$459,354
Mount Pleasant	29466	640	$330,059	$393,445
North Charleston	29405	174	$154,000	$174,906
North Charleston	29406	215	$148,000	$145,865
North Charleston	29418	165	$145,000	$152,549
North Charleston	29420	338	$166,380	$199,354
Pineville	29468	3	$55,000	$141,633
Pinopolis	29469	2	$242,500	$242,500
Ravenel	29470	14	$160,000	$249,564
Reevesville	29471	7	$82,000	$88,057
Ridgeville	29472	20	$237,500	$257,207
St. George	29477	19	$83,000	$97,974
St. Stephen	29479	13	$79,500	$87,946
Sullivans Island	29482	15	$1,400,000	$1,798,267
Summerville	29483	1,061	$171,000	$188,871
Summerville	29485	822	$189,995	$204,035
Wadmalaw Island	29487	9	$543,750	$546,639
West Ashley	29407	301	$209,500	$254,639
West Ashley	29414	605	$214,000	$231,631
Source: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, 4/2009.

Charleston S.C. MSA Apartments, Average Monthly Rent by Sub-Market (Feb 2009)

Submarket	1-bedroom unit	2-bedroom unit	3-bedroom unit
Downtown Charleston	$683	$722	$724
West of the Ashley River	$658	$757	$884
Goose Creek	$667	$725	$848
James Island	$822	$949	$1,151
Mount Pleasant	$825	$973	$1,138
North Charleston	$625	$686	$808
Summerville	$634	$746	$867
Total Charleston S.C. MSA	$676	$763	$883
Source: Real Data Inc., www.aptindex.com. The Charleston S.C. MSA has more than 28,000 rental apartment units. Average monthly rent prices exclude all utilities except water.

For information on current residential real estate offerings, visit the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

The climate of greater Charleston is considered "temperate to subtropical." On average, the region enjoys 230 days of sunshine each year, and the average growing season lasts 294 days.

Latitude	32° 54' N
Longitude	80° 02' W
Average Daily Temperature	65.7° F; 18.7° C
Average Daily High	75.2° F; 24.0° C
Average Daily Low	56.1° F; 13.4° C
Average Days with Sunshine	63%
Average Precipitation	50.08"; 127.2 cm
Average Relative Humidity	86% (AM); 56% (PM)

Monthly Averages, Charleston International Airport, Charleston S.C. MSA

Month	Temp (°F)	Temp (°C)	Relative Humidity (AM)	Relative Humidity (PM)	Precipitation (inches)	Precipitation (centimeters)
January	49.2	9.6	83%	55%	3.20	8.13
February	51.3	10.7	82%	53%	3.17	8.05
March	57.6	14.2	83%	50%	3.97	10.08
April	64.9	18.3	84%	49%	2.70	6.86
May	72.6	22.6	85%	53%	3.51	8.92
June	78.6	25.9	86%	59%	5.77	14.66
July	81.4	27.5	88%	62%	7.33	18.62
August	80.6	27.0	90%	63%	6.81	17.30
September	76.3	24.6	90%	62%	5.41	13.74
October	66.9	19.4	89%	56%	2.97	7.54
November	57.9	14.4	87%	53%	2.30	5.84
December	50.8	10.4	84%	55%	2.96	7.52
Annual	65.7	18.7	86%	56%	50.08	127.20
Source: Southeast Regional Climate Center, 3/2009.

Compared to many other thriving coastal communities, Charleston offers a reasonable cost of living according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. This quarterly survey compares relative living costs for middle-management households among U.S. metropolitan areas and cities. Charleston residents also get a break when it comes to taxes, with the area's state and local tax burden significantly lower than the national average.

Charleston, S.C. MSA Cost of Living Index

All Items (Composite)	96.8
Grocery Items	100.0
Housing	89.4
Utilities	100.0
Transportation	98.0
Health Care	105.4
Miscellaneous Goods and Services	99.7
U.S. Cities Baseline Index = 100
Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2008 Annual Average.

Tax Burden, 2007

	South Carolina	United States
State and Local Taxes, Total (Per Capita)	$3,127	$4,283
Property	$984	$1,278
Sales & Use	$1,045	$1,386
Individual Income	$741	$886
Corporate Income	$71	$178
State and Local Taxes per $1,000 of Personal Income	$97.73	$107.37
Source: TaxFoundation.org, October 2009

The South Carolina tax average is lower than the United States for property, sales & use, individual and corporate income. For more information on state and local tax structure, visit Taxes & Incentives or Personal Taxes.

With more than 2,000 physicians, 10 major medical facilities and a strong commitment to medical research, the Charleston region offers a vital health and wellness community. Three nationally recognized hospital systems serve the region, as well as numerous medical centers considered among the best in the United States. In all, more than 24,000 people are employed by the local healthcare industry.

Major Hospitals & Medical Facilities

Hospitals / Medical Facilities	Contact	Beds/Employees
East Cooper Medical Center	www.eastcoopermedctr.com	104 beds; 600 employees
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)	www.musc.edu	750 beds; 11,000 employees
Ralph H. Johnson V.A. Medical Center	www.med.va.gov	145 beds; 1,000 employees
Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Two area hospital facilities)	www.ropersaintfrancis.com	594 beds; 3,300 employees
Trident Health System (Two area hospital facilities)	www.tridenthealthsystem.com	390 beds; 2,050 employees
Naval Health Clinic Charleston	www.nhchasn.med.navy.mil	184 employees

Source: Center for Business Research, 11/2008

Charleston area residents actively support the performing and visual arts – including a world-class symphony orchestra, a ballet company, several stage companies, a number of museums and a growing base of art galleries. In fact, AmericanStyle magazine lists the Charleston area as one of the top 10 art destinations in the United States.

For the outdoors enthusiast, acres of freshwater lakes, a large national forest, miles of beaches and 160 parks provide the perfect setting for numerous outdoor activities, including sailing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, hunting, windsurfing and water skiing.

To learn more about lifestyle options in the Charleston region, visit our Living & Working Here section.