Charleston’s growth story over the past several years has been defined not just by population gains, but by a steady reshaping of who lives in the market—and what kind of housing they need. Demographic data for the Charleston MSA shows a region that continues to expand while gradually aging, which creates both opportunity and complexity for builders.
Population Growth Remains Strong, but Is Gradually Maturing
Charleston’s total population grew from 803,475 in 2020 to 864,753 in 2024, an increase of 7.6%. Growth is projected to continue through 2029, with the population expected to reach 943,329, representing an additional 9.1% increase from 2024 levels.
Yet the market is not getting younger. The median age held steady at 38 between 2020 and 2024 and is projected to rise to 39 by 2029. The share of residents age 65 and older increased from 16.1% to 17.4% over that period and is projected to reach 19.4% by 2029. Meanwhile, residents under age 19 declined from 24.5% of the population in 2020 to 23.8% in 2024, with further softening ahead.
Household Growth Is Outpacing Population Growth
Household formation is outpacing population growth. The number of households rose from 320,818 in 2020 to 348,013 in 2024—an 8.5% increase. By 2029, households are projected to grow another 9.9%, reaching 382,396.
Average household size has remained stable at 2.5 throughout the forecast, indicating that growth is being driven by more households, not larger ones. One- and two-person households dominated the market in 2024, accounting for 62.6% of all households, a share expected to remain essentially unchanged through 2029.
Household Age Profile
Household age data underscores the shift. In 2024, householders ages 35 to 64 made up 53.2% of all households, while those 65 and older accounted for 25.1%. By 2029, the 75-and-older cohort alone is projected to grow from 9.6% to 11.2% of households.
Younger householders remain present but are not gaining share. Householders ages 25 to 34 accounted for 17.4% of households in 2024, a figure projected to slip modestly by 2029.
The insights in this article were taken from more in-depth market-level demographic reports published in Zonda’s National Outlook.
