Retiring in Charleston, SC

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

90°/41°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$596,033

Housing (Typical Value)

358.8

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

2 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is Charleston Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 152,014, Charleston offers a mid-size city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

No benchmark-based strengths flagged

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher housing costs
Higher property crime
Limited hospital access
Elevated coastal flooding risk
Elevated hurricane risk
Elevated earthquake risk
Elevated ice storms risk

Potential advantages. The current benchmark screen did not flag a major comparative strength. Use the detailed values below to assess the factors that matter most to you.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 90°F. Annual precipitation is 52.5 inches. The typical home value is $596,033, 60% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $1,632 per month, 17% above the $1,400 per month US median. The reported property crime rate is 2035.1 per 100,000, 16% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. The nearest hospital is Musc Medical Center, 0.8 miles away. Its CMS quality rating is 2 of 5. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to coastal flooding, hurricane, earthquake and ice storms.

RetireHere is designed to turn these facts into a personal comparison. Set your own priorities for climate, housing, safety, healthcare and other factors, then compare Charleston with other cities using the same criteria.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)90°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)41°F

Annual snowfall0.3"

Annual precipitation52.5"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$596,03360% above the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,632/mo17% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate358.8 /100,000near the US median of 359.1 /100,000

Property crime rate2035.1 /100,00016% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate226.9 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalMusc Medical Center (0.8 mi)

Hospital quality★★☆☆☆ (2 of 5)

Primary care accessStrong (807 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index11.6/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population152,014Classified as a mid-size city

Elevation2 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively Moderate

Coastal floodingVery High

TornadoRelatively Moderate

HurricaneVery High

WildfireRelatively Moderate

EarthquakeRelatively High

Ice stormsRelatively High

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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