Side-by-side comparison of Charleston, SC and North Charleston, SC — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: North Charleston has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.08% compared to Charleston's 3.51%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $410,000 in Charleston vs $295,000 in North Charleston, while rents come in at $1,750/mo and $1,420/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Charleston is growing faster at 2.2% annually vs North Charleston's 1.8%. Charleston leads on home value appreciation at 4% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.57% in Charleston vs 0.58% in North Charleston. Vacancy rates of 4.8% and 5.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Charleston edges out North Charleston on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.51%, Charleston's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Charleston or North Charleston.