Insights / Charleston

Firm
Heating
Condition and direction
Charleston, SC · recomputed daily
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Charleston, SC Multifamily Market Read | September 2026

Charleston reads Firm and Heating, so landlords have the edge. Asking rents are firming, up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026). This brief lays out what the current data shows for Charleston, grouped by how often each source updates.

Updated September 20, 2026

Asking rent YoY · monthly
+3.3%
Vacancy · 2024
8.5%
Jobs YoY · monthly
+1.4%

What is moving now (monthly)

Asking rents are firming, up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026). Jobs are growing modestly, up 1.4% over the past year (BLS, monthly, latest Aug 2026).

The backdrop (yearly, US Census Bureau)

Vacancy was 8.5%, on the high side, giving renters more choice, in the 2024 count (US Census Bureau). This is a yearly snapshot, not a monthly signal. New permitting was subdued, -7.0% in the 2025 count (US Census Bureau, building permits). A standing yearly figure, not a live signal. Net migration was positive at +11.2 per 1,000 residents in the 2025 count (US Census Bureau).

Rent context

The metro median rent, including utilities, was about $1,714 a month in the 2024 count (US Census Bureau).

What the data shows

Taken together, Charleston is Firm and heating: landlords have the edge. The monthly movers, asking rent and jobs, are the live part of the picture, while vacancy, permitting, and migration are yearly snapshots that set the backdrop. MetroSgnl reads the market from public data and shows every figure with its source and cadence. This is market information, not investment advice, and not a recommendation about any property.

Common questions about Charleston · answered from the data, updated September 20, 2026

Is the Charleston rental market tight or soft right now?

Charleston reads Firm right now, so landlords have the edge.

Which way is the Charleston market heading?

Charleston is heating right now, as asking rents firm over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly).

Is Charleston a landlord's or a renter's market?

Charleston is a landlord's market right now, because it reads Firm.

What is the vacancy rate in Charleston?

Vacancy in Charleston is 8.5% in the Jan 2024 count, a yearly snapshot rather than a live monthly signal (US Census Bureau).

How much have Charleston rents changed?

Asking rents in Charleston are up 3.3% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Aug 2026).

Recent coverage

Daily, from the MetroSgnl news feed. Headlines only.

Thompson Thrift Expands National Footprint to 25 States with The Development of The Whitmore atMultifamilyBiz
Charleston County board OKs request to remove trees for nearly 100 apartments on Folly RoadPost and Courier
Center Park Group, Berry Co. Underway on BTR Development Near CharlestonMultifamily & Affordable Housing Business
Charleston Housing Authority reopens historic Kiawah Homes after renovationLive 5 News
Calhoun Street apartments get final approval from a Charleston board after years of rejected planspostandcourier.com
Park Circle rents rise as growth squeezes longtime residents, local restaurantsWCIV
See all Charleston news →

Data: Zillow ZORI, BLS, US Census Bureau, FRED, and the MetroSgnl news feed. Recomputed daily. Market information only, not investment advice.

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