Charleston FAQs

Moving to Charleston

Should you move to Charleston? Believe all the hype. Charleston is a fabulous place to live. Conde Nest doesn’t hand out Best City in the US ten years running for nothing.

Charleston is very laidback, people are here to enjoy life, not the rat race. Charleston has small-town charm, and then add in the best of what you’d get in a big city.

The weather is ideal. Warm year round but with just enough of a cool winter. 3 beaches give you a break from the Summer heat.

I came to work in Charleston on a 3-month contract. That was 25 years ago. ‘nuff said.

Best Place To Live in Charleston By Work/Lifestyle/Sport

Which is the best beach to live in Charleston?

Depends on your vibe. Sullivan’s Island is for the very wealthy with $3M+ to spend. If your budget is lower or if you want to use it as a vacation home that you can rent out, then look at Isle of Palms or Folly Beach. Kiawah & Seabrook tend to get an older crowd. Edisto Beach is like going back 20 years but in a good non-commercial way.

Where is the best place for retirees to live in Charleston?

There are lots of retirees moving to Charleston these days. The beaches offer a slow pace of life, where you use the golf cart more than the car. Daniel Island has a lot of luxury condos with plenty of social activities for retirees. Mt Pleasant is always popular because it’s got everything. Downtown is a very walkable area so retirees like it there and there are luxury condos.

Where is the best place for golfers to live in Charleston?

Mt Pleasant is usually the favorite place for golfers. It has golf course communities such as Dunes West, Rivertowne, and Charleston National. Bull’s Bay isn’t far away. Patriots Point and Wild Dunes are close by as well.

If your budget is high, the Daniel Island Club has luxury custom homes on its championship course.

West Ashley has Shadowmoss & Stono Ferry.

Where is the best place for MUSC employees to live in Charleston?

Okay, this is one of our specialties, we work with a lot of doctors and medical residents.

Many doctors live in Mt Pleasant & Daniel Island. Both are beautiful, have top schools, and upper-middle-class lifestyles. are close enough to downtown.

We’ve had doctors who wanted more space and live on a few acres on John’s Island.

Some doctors want to stay downtown in neighborhoods like Longborough in Wagener Terrace.

MUSC Medical Residents moving to Charleston focus on Johns Island, James Island & West Ashley.

Where is the best place for Boeing workers to live in Charleston?

Boeing is so centrally located that there isn’t one place I’ve seen Boeing workers tend to move to. Those on a high income at Boeing usually live in Mt Pleasant or Daniel Island. Some going to high-end parts of Summerville.

I used to be an engineer at Bosch when it was the big engineering company in town. Then Boeing came along and many of my colleagues moved to Boeing, so I know a lot of Boeing engineers. They generally look for houses in James Island, West Ashley, and Summerville.

Where is the best place for young professionals to live in Charleston?

Downtown is the obvious answer here but it’s getting too expensive for YPs.

Park Circle, West Ashley, and James Island are more reasonably priced. They’re still close enough to downtown for a good social life.

Where is the best place for families to live in Charleston?

Families usually like planned subdivisions with amenities. Mt Pleasant, Summerville, James Island, and John’s Island have these. Daniel Island is also family-friendly.

Mt Pleasant has the schools and a lot of families who we work with focus there if their budget allows.

Where is the best place to buy a second home in Charleston?

You want to move to Charleston part-time. If you want a lock-and-leave condo, look downtown or one of the luxury condos in Mt Pleasant.

If you want a place you can rent out when you’re not using it, look in the beach towns. Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, or Seabrook Island would be good.

Wild Dunes is another excellent option, especially if you like activities.

Where are the best luxury condos in Charleston

Downtown has the best choice of luxury condos. Some have water views.

Over the Ravenel Bridge, Mt Pleasant has some very nice mid-rise condos with water views. They’re only a few minutes from downtown and Sullivan’s Island.

Where is the best place for boaters to live in Charleston?

Charleston has so many public boat landings & private marinas. so you can live anywhere and have water access.

If you want a house with its own water access, James Island, Johns Island, Mt Pleasant, and West Ashley. Some of its deep water, much of it tidal though.

So much depends on your budget. One of our team is a big boater so we direct all boaters to him and he’ll give you expert advice on that.

Best Place To Live in Charleston By Budget

Where should I live in Charleston with a $500k budget?

I’d focus on West Ashley, Johns Island, Summerville, Park Circle, and James Island. You can find nice houses in those areas for $500,000. As always location is key, so you may have to drive a little further to get more space at this price.

Where should I live in Charleston with a $750k budget?

Any of the areas mentioned are in the $500k range and now you can add in Mt Pleasant, downtown, and Daniel Island. You’ll find 4 bedroom 2,500 square foot homes around that price in any of these areas. New construction can be a good option here too, build a house to your tastes.

Where should I live in Charleston with a $1M budget?

One million dollars will get you a house in any area of Charleston except for the beaches.

You can get a very large home in any of the suburbs such as James Island, John’s Island, or West Ashley. You can get a good-sized family home in Mt Pleasant or Daniel Island.

If you want to live on the beach, you’ll be able to buy a condo. Focus on Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Kiawah, or Seabrook under a million.

If you want a beach house, you’ll find a few on Edisto Beach which is an hour away.

Where should I live in Charleston with a $2M budget?

Now you can live anywhere in Charleston with $2M.

You can get a nice renovated historic home downtown. You may prefer a waterfront house in Mt Pleasant or Daniel Island.

You can get a deep-water house or more acreage on James Island, John’s Island, or Folly Beach.

If you want Sullivan’s Island, you may find it hard to get something under 2 million, it will likely need work.

Where should I live in Charleston with a $5M budget?

With $5M, your options open up.

You can buy a renovated magazine-worthy historic home downtown.

You can get a large waterfront house in Mt Pleasant or Daniel Island. Those houses would have water access for boating or spectacular views.

If you’re a golfer or like club life, I’d suggest looking at houses on the golf course in Daniel Island. Some of those are stunning and often in magazines.

There are plantations on John’s Island, James Island, and further out.

5 million opens up any of the beaches such as Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, or Folly Beach, or even out to Kiawah.

Buying land and building your own custom home is another option. We can recommend some luxury builders.

Where should I buy in Charleston with a $10M budget?

Any house downtown, even on the Charleston Battery.

You can buy one of the nicest houses on Sullivan’s Island with views to die for.

You could go to Old Village Mt Pleasant with views across to Downtown Charleston. That gives you more space and you’re midway between downtown and the beach.

Any of the beachfront homes in Kiawah are an option at that price range.

The owners of this level of house tend to be very private and don’t always list them on the open market. I’d recommend contacting us and we’ll discreetly source one.

Comparisons between the Charleston Areas

Mt Pleasant or Daniel Island

Downtown or Mt Pleasant

West Ashley or James Island

Folly Beach v Kiawah Island

Sullivan’s Island or Isle of Palms

Folly Beach or Isle of Palms

James Island or Johns Island

Facts about Charleston

How big is Charleston?

Not that big. I live downtown and walk everywhere. 90% of my driving is under 20 minutes. If you’re driving longer than 45 minutes, you’re not in Charleston anymore.

The metro area has 3 counties. Charleston, Berkeley & Dorchester. The population of these 3 counties is around 800,000.

The Charleston area is growing 3 times faster than the average US area.

What’s the weather like in Charleston?

Generally warm and bright. Hot in the Summer, but we’re not like Florida, Charleston does get a mild Winter to break up the seasons. The Winter days are usually bright & sunny.

Where can I fly to from Charleston Airport?

Charleston International Airport has nonstop flights to 48 different airports in the US.

CHS is very central, you can get to the airport in 20 minutes from anywhere in Charleston.

It’s not too big. I have TSA Pre-Check and am usually airside within 5 minutes.

There is a small airport on John’s Island, Charleston Executive Airport (JZI). Many of the wealthy Kiawah Island residents fly here. Mt Pleasant has a regional airport (LRO).

Is Charleston conservative or liberal?

While SC is traditionally a conservative state, the Charleston area is more balanced

Here is how the three counties in Charleston voted in the 2020 Presidential Election

What is life really like in Charleston?

What are the schools like in Charleston?

A lot of money & influence has come into Charleston in the last decade. Those parents have demanded top-quality schools and we have them now.

Wando HS is more like a university than a high school. Friends in James Island love the education their kids got there. Buist Academy always gets top ratings. We have clients in other areas who have chosen to send their children to private schools.

The best thing to do is talk to parents at the school district that you’re interested in. We have clients with children at every school in Charleston. Contact us and we can connect you to a parent in any school you’re interested in

Are there beaches in Charleston?

I moved here for the beaches. I go to Sullivan’s Island to walk my dog in the morning & kitesurf in the afternoon.

People ask what beach you go to, that’s their way of categorizing you! 3 beaches are within 20 minutes of downtown.

Sullivan’s Island: Has a chilled vibe. Dog walkers love it due to dog laws. Instagrammers love it for endless content.

Isle of Palms: Lot of vacationers but you can walk for hours on the 7-mile-long beach.

Folly Beach: The Edge of America, is eclectic & fascinating people-watching.

Kiawah Island: Further out from downtown but worth the drive. In Top Ten Beaches of the US.

Is there traffic in Charleston?

The locals complain about how bad traffic is now, but that’s because we’ve had it so good for so long. If you’re coming from a big city, you’ll politely smile when we say traffic is bad.

What is the cost of living like in Charleston?

Rather than bore you with stats that are always changing, let’s make this simple.

If you’re coming from New York, CT, or the Northeast, you’ll find Charleston reasonable.

If you’re coming from Ohio, or the Midwest, you may find it expensive.

Why are so many people moving to Charleston?

Maybe it’s because Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure keep giving us awards. 10 years in a row for the best city in the US.

Maybe because of the weather & lifestyle

Maybe because we have a diverse economy with Boeing, Mercedes, Volvo, Bosch, Amazon, Military, Medical University of SC.

Maybe because WFH and non-stop flights to nearly 50 cities make it easy to commute.

Maybe it’s the golf, the boating, the food, the water, the architecture, or the feeling of permanently being on vacation.

Maybe because the cool mountains are only a few hours’ drive away.

Maybe because so many visitors fall in love with the city and want to stay.

Maybe all of the above.

What are the cons of living in Charleston?

We’re nothing if not honest, so here are the cons of living in Charleston.

Charleston is now on the map. I moved here in 1999 and people would ask “Oh you moved to Charlotte?”. They hadn’t even heard of Charleston. Now everyone knows it. Downtown has got a lot of tourists. But locals know which parts to avoid.

Real estate values have increased. The days of getting in cheap are over.

There’s some traffic at rush hour.

It gets hot in the Summer.

Hurricanes. We haven’t had a big one in 35 years. But every September, we keep an eye on the tropics.

Are there good restaurants in Charleston?

Charleston is one of the best food towns in the South.

Downtown is the obvious place to find them. A restaurant doesn’t survive long downtown unless it is doing something right. Look for places off King Street too such as Circa 1886. Please don’t use TripAdvisor, or TouristTrapAdvisor as I call it.

Areas like Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, and Sullivan’s all have their local favorites too.

John’s Island is a surprising place to find excellent chefs who are priced out of downtown. John’s Island is a bit like Off-Broadway for food.

What is nightlife like in Charleston?

It’s very good. King Street is the main late-night area with all the bars & restaurants.

The area downtown around the City Market is very touristy, I don’t go down there much.

In Mt Pleasant, Shem Creek for Happy Hour is the after-work and weekend spot for those living on that side of town. They’ll go to the chilled beach scene at Sullivan’s as well.

Folly Beach has flipflop and shorts nightlife. Surf bars next to biker bars.

Read our Visit Charleston page for the best itineraries you’ll find anywhere.

What about flood insurance in Charleston?

If I had a dollar for every time a newcomer asks me this question, it’s a concern for those moving from inline areas.

The good news is that flood insurance is not bad, seriously! We live in a hurricane zone and Charleston is low-lying, so we all need flood insurance, but it’s reasonable.

My flood insurance on my house downtown is $700 per year. Oceanfront houses on the beach will pay thousands.

There’s no simple calculation, each house has to be evaluated individually. But flood insurance is another bill rather than a deal killer.

What are property taxes like in Charleston?

They’re low! When talking to people from CT, I have to confirm that their $2000 property tax bill is per year, not per month.

Are there country clubs in Charleston?

We have a lot of golf and being a member of any of those clubs would introduce you to a wide social circle. Daniel Island Club, Country Club of Charleston, Kiawah, Yeaman’s Hall, Bull’s Bay.

Their members tend to be high net worth. You can also meet Charleston’s society at the yacht clubs & private clubs downtown.

Remember what Oscar Wilde said “I don’t want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member”

Where do rich people live in Charleston?

Downtown, Mt Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Daniel Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Kiawah Island. These are the high net worth areas.

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