29456 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
29420
29456
Opportunity
77 · Top 11%
vs76 · Top 12%
Growth
65 · Top 23%
vs65 · Top 23%
Climate
77 · Top 23%
vs77 · Top 23%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 21%
vs26 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 30%
vs78 · Bottom 47%
Schools
21 · Bottom 11%
vs37 · Bottom 32%
Access
49 · Bottom 3%
vs50 · Bottom 4%
Economic stability
69 · Top 33%
vs73 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | 29420 | 29456 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,959 | 41,214 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,661 | $78,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,165 | $37,076 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,392/sq mi | 2,281/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $331,700 | $270,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,529 | $1,650 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.2% | 61.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.1% | 2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 24.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 9.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,004 | 1,004 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.4 | 8.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -33.8% | -33.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.5" | 52.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 85 mi | 84 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.7 | 31.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.40 | 14.58 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 20.4% | 29.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 24.8% | 36.8% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
29420
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
29456
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Full profiles: 29420 — North Charleston, SC · 29456 — North Charleston, SC · How this is calculated: methodology