To visit Charleston is to walk through an outdoor history museum warmed by ocean breezes and filled with some of the best bars and restaurants in the country. But despite its allure as a tourist destination – named the top travel city in America for the past 11 years by Travel + Leisure – it would be wrong to sleep on this Southern gem as a home base. That’s because locals know Chucktown, as they like to call it, is so much more than a densely packed peninsula of iconic pastel-colored homes, James Beard award-winning restaurants and four-star hotels. The city’s jagged coastline splits it into separate island communities carved out from the estuaries feeding in from the Atlantic coast, each with its own community vibe and culture. Speaking of culture, the Gullah-Geechee influence has touched many aspects of life here, shaping the city’s robust culinary heritage and establishing its artistic roots. And it’s no surprise that a place dubbed “The Holy City” features an abundance of historic synagogues, churches and cathedrals. All of this makes Charleston a winning combo of old Southern charm and cosmopolitan allure, with a healthy mix of well-preserved, historically significant landmarks, coastal getaways and a flourishing hospitality scene.
St. Philips Church in the French Quarter is a popular church to worship in Charleston.
Highway 17 and the Ravenel Bridge connects coastal communities in Charleston.
Families love to play at the Pineapple fountain in Joe Riley Waterfront Park in Charleston.
Learn about the history of Charleston on a carriage ride through the French Quarter.
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Classic charm and coastal communities
While postcards of Charleston tend to focus on the peninsula, the city actually stretches over four islands and offers a variety of home styles. Downtown Charleston’s historic streetscapes are full of head-turning architecture. Its narrow cobblestone roads feature stunning 18th-century designs with double-decker porches, floor-to-ceiling windows and brightly colored facades. The famed Rainbow Row corridor is one of the city’s quintessential examples, featuring pastel mansions overlooking the water. These stylish properties can come with a hefty price tag, most starting around $1 million and climbing into the multi-millions. Meanwhile, moss-laden live oaks decorate the suburban communities on the east side, like James and Johns Island. The quiet communities have a wide selection of ranch styles and contemporary moderns at slightly more accessible prices, ranging from $600,000 to $2 million. Properties in Charleston’s prominent waterfront locales start around $350,000 for a modest condo and reach $5 million for a spacious estate with water views.
Find unique Charleston style homes with breathtaking views of the Charleston harbor.
Rainbow Row is a popular spot to walk with a row of colorful historic homes in Charleston.
French Quarter in Charleston, SC has beautiful condos near the waterfront in Charleston.
Find Tree shaded homes with spacious yards on Johns Island in Charleston.
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Chucktown's active dining, shopping and social scene
Dinners out aren’t just for special occasions in Charleston – it’s part of this Lowcountry lifestyle. Downtown’s wide-ranging mix of restaurants includes classic Southern favorites like Husk and newer hot spots like The Ordinary, a seafood-focused bar, and Xiao Bao Biscuit, which specializes in multicultural Asian flavors. Locals stop for Soul Food at Hannibal’s and belly up to the bar at Lewis Barbeque for heaping portions of its namesake dish. Each of Charleston's coastal communities cultivates its own identity, resulting in a growing number of destination restaurants, some in unsuspecting areas. Locals crowd independent spots like Park Circle’s Jackrabbit Filly, Johns Island’s Wild Olive and James Island’s Bar George. Beach bites come with an ocean view at Bowen’s Island. Bars and breweries beckon Charlestonians with varied experiences, ranging from rooftop libations at Revelry to more intimate meetups at Charles Towne Fermentory in trendy Avondale. And Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company, in the warehouse district off Upper King Street, serves flights, pints, and pitchers to guests lounging in the cozy courtyard with their dogs, listening to live music.
Retail options are abundant in the city. King Street runs through the historic district, a walker's paradise strung with rows of storefronts housing name-brand labels, busy bars, and local boutiques. This is a one-stop-shop for Charlestonians, who come to browse luxury destinations like Louis Vuitton, local boutiques like the sweet-smelling Candlefish, and familiar favorites like Urban Outfitters. A half-mile stretch of King is closed to traffic on the second Sunday of each month when shoppers spill out onto the narrow corridor, weaving in and out of people dining on café tables in the street.
Any discussion of events in Charleston begins with the international arts extravaganza known as Spoleto Festival USA. This 17-day celebration fills the city’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with performances by professionals from the worlds of opera, theater, dance and chamber, symphonic, choral, and jazz music. Spoleto is nearing its 50th year and is recognized as one of the country’s best arts festivals. At the same time, the city also hosts Piccolo Spoleto, which highlights outstanding local and regional artists with several hundred performances throughout the city. The Charleston Wine and Food Festival, in March, spotlights local purveyors across the city, and the Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park is a popular end-of-year activity. The Cooper River Bridge Run is another local tradition, a 10k race that brings 40,000 people into town to cross the Ravenel Bridge.
Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island is one of the city’s most popular venues, hosting major musical acts like Dave Matthews Band and annual events like the Charleston Open, the longest-running professional women’s tennis tournament in the country. There are opportunities to see live music in almost every neighborhood – James Island locals can catch an edgy local band at The Charleston Pour House, while others dress up and head downtown to see the symphony at the Galliard Center. Charleston City Market is in the busy French Quarter, where the historic, brick-walled passageway extends for blocks, lodging small shops and vendors, packed with shoppers on sunny afternoons. The city’s monthly First Friday art walks take place on and around the central King Street. It’s a tradition running 20 years strong, with 40 participating galleries that open their doors to visitors revolving in and out, enjoying refreshments while perusing the collections.
Husk is a James Beard award-winning family restaurant in Charleston.
Enjoy great local food with water views at Bowens Island on James Island in Charleston.
Second Sunday on King Street is a fun event every month in downtown Charleston.
Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island hosts tennis matches and live concerts in Charleston.
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Beaches and parks get locals outside in the sunshine
Charleston’s beaches are as diverse as its communities, offering everything from casual comforts to resort-style relaxation. Folly offers a classic beach town atmosphere, with a busy pier and a long strip of surf shops and restaurants. Isle of Palms has a more upscale vibe with an uncrowded oceanfront. Sullivan’s Island falls somewhere in between, with spacious beaches to accommodate the crowds, a quiet residential landscape and several popular dining options often welcomed after a long day in the sun. Kiawah Island, located roughly 30 miles from the city, is an internationally famous resort, but locals frequently make the trek for its pristine scenery. Much of the island is private, though Beachwalker County Park is free (save for a small parking fee) to the public. No matter where they go, residents enjoy easy access to the water. “It’s common for people to pack their coolers at 3 p.m. on a Friday and go out on the boat,” says Matthew Poole, a Realtor with Carolina One Real Estate who sells throughout the city.
The beach isn’t the only way to enjoy the outdoors. Locals get fresh air at the Marion Square Farmers Market, go for a run around lush Hampton Park, or walk along the scenic Battery promenade lining the bottom of the peninsula. The region is known for its wealth of golf courses, including the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, which hosts the PGA Championship games. The city of Charleston Municipal Course is on James Island, a popular spot for hobbyists to spend a day on the fairways.
Families enjoy spending time together outdoors at the Folly Beach Pier in Charleston.
Relax at the beach with family and friends on Sullivan's Island in Charleston..
Charleston residents enjoy shopping for fresh produce at Charleston Farmers Market.
Meet friends for a fun round of golf at the City of Charleston Municipal Golf Course.
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Top-ranking public schools and historic universities
The Charleston County School District is rated A grade by Niche, which also rates among the top 10 best school districts in the state. It serves approximately 50,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs. Over 30 private schools offer education alternatives, including the top-rated Charleston Collegiate on Johns Island. The district as a whole is tackling stagnant math scores, particularly post-pandemic. To boost progress in the subject, the district allocated funding for new math coach positions to all its elementary schools. For those who need help deciding on placement, there is an annual Choice Fair, typically held virtually, for families to “sit in” on sessions given to the staff and principals of each school.
Charleston is the site of the College of Charleston (CofC), one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1770. The public university is in the heart of the city and ranks among the top 10 in US News and World Report’s Best Regional Universities – South as of 2024. The Citadel is also in town, a historic military academy known for its iconic 300-acre campus next to Hampton Park.
Charleston Collegiate is a top-rated private school on Johns Island in Charleston.
College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and the oldest university in South Carolina.
The Citadel in Charleston is known as the military college of South Carolina.
Teenagers in grades 9-12 can attend Burke High School, in Charleston's Westside neighborhood.
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Tech startups, tourism and top healthcare centers
Healthcare heavy hitters like Roper St. Francis and Trident account for a significant portion of the city’s local workforce, alongside the regional school districts and government offices. Tourism is another powerful economic engine in Charleston. According to a recent College of Charleston study, the impact of this thriving industry hit a record high of $12.8 billion in 2022, a 20% increase over 2021.
Booz Allen Hamilton is a large tech employer in Charleston.
The Charleston City Market always has something for its residents and visitors to do.
Trident Medical Center is a full-service hospital in Deer Park, Charleston.
Roper St. Francis is a top-rated healthcare center in Charleston.
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Cars and bikes help locals get around
Interstates 26 and 526 are Charleston’s main arterial roads, which, in addition to Highway 17, connect locals living in West Ashley and the coastal communities to the buzzing peninsula. Commuting can be challenging during rush hour. “We’re a city constrained by bridges, so there are some natural bottlenecks,” Poole says. “But it’s also those boundaries that create the beauty of the Lowcountry here.” The city provides a free Downtown Area Shuttle in addition to regular, express and airport routes that carry locals across town car-free. Downtown Charleston is relatively pedestrian and bike-friendly, with built-in lanes on the main roads and sidewalks lining every street. Still, the city is vehicle-dependent, as most locals live and travel outside the boundaries of downtown. The Charleston International Airport is on the city’s north side, roughly 10 miles from downtown.
CARTA bus in Charleston offers free commutes around the city for residents.
Locals love to bike down King Street in Mazyck-Wraggborough for quick commutes in Charleston.
Enjoy a lovely walk with scenic views at the Battery in Charleston..
The Pedicabs in Charleston is a quick way to commute around the Charleston Area..
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A look at Charleston's weather and crime
Charleston’s subtropical climate means the city experiences relatively high humidity throughout the year, and the lowest average temperature doesn’t dip far below 50 degrees during the winter months. But it is vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding, with water everywhere and more than a third of its houses sitting at 10 feet above sea level. This means the city gives way to the incoming tides even with small amounts of precipitation. The municipal floodplain management team is a resource for homeowners in evaluating critical preventative measures, including minimum elevation requirements, structural foundation standards, and historic preservation guidelines. Identifying each neighborhood’s flood zone is important when homebuying in Charleston.
According to FBI data, the reported violent crime rates in Charleston are below the state rates but slightly higher than the national figures. Property crime rates in the city are generally similar to national and state rates. Statistics released by the Charleston Police Department reflect an overall downward trend: year-to-date violent crime rates in December 2024 were 5% lower than the five-year average and property crime rates were down nearly 11%. The city’s Crime Prevention Unit is a resource for local neighborhood associations and multifamily housing communities. The force offers several services free of charge, including Neighborhood Crime Advisories through phone calls and emails to association presidents to keep them abreast of recent incidents and trends. Security Surveys are another helpful precaution, scheduled by appointment to help residents identify risk factors.
Hi, I’m Michele Costanzo, a dedicated Realtor® serving the greater Charleston area since 2002. My journey in real estate started with the renowned Costanzo Team, where I had the honor of working alongside my late mother, Lina Costanzo. With over 20 years of experience, I’ve learned that finding the perfect home or business is about more than just the property—it’s about creating a space that truly expresses you.
Before I became a Realtor®, I worked as an interior designer, and I bring that design expertise to every transaction. Whether helping you see the potential in every property to turn it into your ideal space or staging a property to maximize a sale, this experience is an valuable part of my services.
I’m also proud to partner with Gulf War Veterans, assisting veterans and their families as they relocate to Charleston, as well as Indigo Hall Assisted Living and Memory Care, to support seniors and their families with their real estate needs.
As the 2025 president-elect of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® Global Business Chapter, I have a special focus on foreign clients and those interested in expanding internationally.
Whether you're buying your first home, relocating, or searching for an investment property, I’m here to guide you every step of the way with personalized service, expertise, and a deep commitment to helping you find exactly what you're looking for. Let’s make your real estate journey a success!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
