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Berkeley County, SC

RANK #745 / 996  ·  POP 231,419  ·  SC

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.2%

Berkeley County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Berkeley County?

Cypress Gardens, a 170-acre preserve in Moncks Corner, offers botanical gardens and an 80-acre blackwater swamp, famously featured in films like *The Notebook*. Berkeley County, located in South Carolina's Lowcountry, sits near Charleston, providing a blend of suburban living with access to urban amenities. Commuting options include major interstates like I-26 and I-95, and public transportation such as the TriCounty Link bus system, which also offers commuter routes. The county is characterized by its natural scenery, including Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, and the Francis Marion National Forest, offering extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, and biking.

Life in Berkeley County attracts families and young professionals, with a community that values its small-town feel despite ongoing development. The Berkeley County School District serves the area with public schools. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in commercial and residential sectors, as well as manufacturing and technology. This expansion includes new facilities and a focus on workforce development to support the evolving economic landscape.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.0x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+8.6%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-0.7%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.7

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 5.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Berkeley County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
231,419
+2.94% YoY
Median Household Income
$77,874
Median Home Value
$253,100
-0.65% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,410
Average Annual Pay
$68,211
+5.1% YoY
Employment
66,943
+4.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3077
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.46%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$392,400
Days on Market
83
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.3
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.7%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
21.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
20.6%
Building Permits (2024)
3,169
Single-Family Permits
2,573

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$6,390M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Redwood Materials Battery Recycling Plant
Redwood Materials
$3,500M Under Construction
Google Data Center Expansion
Google
$1,300M Under Construction
Pinopolis Reliability Project (Battery Energy Storage System)
Aypa Power (for Santee Cooper)
$1,200M Planned
Sandy Run Solar Project
RWE Renewables
$225M Planned
Residential Developments (Multiple Projects)
Various
$100M Under Construction
Bushy Park Combustion Turbine Facility
Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc.
$65M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +8.6% 97 percentile
Population Growth +2.9% 95 percentile
Income Growth +10.0% 80 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 29 percentile
Home Price Change -0.7% 24 percentile
Rent Growth +1.7% 29 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 80 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley County, SC a good place to move to?

Berkeley County has a Boom Town Index score of 25/100, ranking #745 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +4.6% and a median household income of $77,874, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Berkeley County affordable?

The median home value in Berkeley County is $253,100 with median rent at $1,410/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3077, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Berkeley County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +2.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +4.6%. Home values changed -0.7% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Berkeley County?

Yes — 4.46% of Berkeley County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Haywood County, NC 35 La Plata County, CO 35 Kent County, DE 35 St. Martin Parish, LA 35 Oklahoma County, OK 35 Alamance County, NC 35 Gaston County, NC 35 Moore County, NC 35