What is the rental vacancy rate in Charleston, SC?

Name: Vacancy rate in Charleston, SC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The rental vacancy rate in Charleston, SC is 9.1% (±1.7 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

The homeowner vacancy rate is 1.0% (±0.5 points).

9,390 (±817) homes, 12.1% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.

In Charleston, the rental vacancy rate went from 4.8% in 2015–2019 to 9.1% in 2020–2024 (+4.3 percentage points), a measurable increase.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Rental vacancy rate: 9.1% (±1.7 points)
Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.0% (±0.5 points)
Vacant homes: 9,390 (±817)

Vacancy in Charleston against Charleston County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina	United States
Rental vacancy rate	9.1% (±1.7 points)	11.7% (±1.3 points)	8.3% (±0.3 points)	5.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.0% (±0.5 points)	1.1% (±0.3 points)	0.9% (±0.1 points)	0.9%
Vacant housing units	9,390 (±817)	30,828 (±1,481)	325,050 (±5,753)	14,547,859

The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.

In Charleston, the rental vacancy rate is lower than in Charleston County (11.7%).

It is not measurably different from South Carolina (8.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (5.5%).

Rental vacancy rate in places near Charleston

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Charleston
Place	Distance	Rental vacancy rate	Compared with this place
Charleston	—	9.1% (±1.7 points)	—
Mount Pleasant	6.4 mi	12.9% (±4.2 points)	Not measurably different
James Island	6.7 mi	5.2% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Hanahan	7.3 mi	6.1% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
North Charleston	8.2 mi	9.0% (±1.8 points)	Not measurably different
Sullivan's Island	9.1 mi	20.4% (±15.9 points)	Not measurably different
Folly Beach	11 mi	82.7% (±10.0 points)	Higher
Goose Creek	12 mi	5.2% (±2.0 points)	Lower
Isle of Palms	13 mi	90.8% (±5.7 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Goose Creek, SC (5.2%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Folly Beach, SC (82.7%), Isle of Palms, SC (90.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Rental vacancy rate across Charleston County, place by place

Rank	Place	Rental vacancy rate
2	Kiawah Island	84.6% (±12.8 points)
3	Folly Beach	82.7% (±10.0 points)
4	Seabrook Island	65.8% (±20.0 points)
5	Sullivan's Island	20.4% (±15.9 points)
6	Mount Pleasant	12.9% (±4.2 points)
7	Meggett	11.1% (±14.8 points)
8	Charleston	9.1% (±1.7 points)
9	North Charleston	9.0% (±1.8 points)
10	Lincolnville	8.8% (±10.8 points)
11	Awendaw	7.8% (±15.3 points)
12	James Island	5.2% (±8.4 points)
13 (tie)	Hollywood	0.0% (±15.8 points)
13 (tie)	McClellanville	0.0% (±100.0 points)

Showing 13 of 16 places in Charleston County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Charleston

Is it hard to find a rental in Charleston?

The rental vacancy rate in Charleston, SC is 9.1% (±1.7 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.

Is the rental market in Charleston tighter than it was?

In Charleston, the rental vacancy rate went from 4.8% in 2015–2019 to 9.1% in 2020–2024 (+4.3 percentage points), a measurable increase.

How many homes are vacant in Charleston?

An estimated 9,390 (±817) housing units, 12.1% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Charleston city, South Carolina (place:13330, in state:45).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.