Charleston, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29403
Charleston County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,818
- 1,504/sq mi High-density area
- $66,944
- Median income Near-median income area
- $674,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 60.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Charleston pairs a below-median household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,504
- people per sq mi
- 33%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29403 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29403 (Charleston, SC) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 470.9 in 2023 to 505.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29403 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, with 20,818 residents across 13.8 square miles, a density of 1,504 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29403 reports a modest median household income of $66,944 (5% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $49,758. The poverty rate is 25.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $674,000 (198% above the average South Carolina ZIP), with only 32.9% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,798.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 60.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Charleston County, so 29403 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 29403
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Charleston, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29403.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
191 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
184 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
108 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
105 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
92 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29403, Charleston, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
20,818
Population
13.8
Area (sq mi)
1,504
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29403?
30.0
Median Age
44.1%
Male
55.9%
Female
4.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$66,944
Median Household Income
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$49,758
Per Capita Income
25.8%
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Unemployment Rate
17.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29403 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Charleston, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$66,944 Top 36% higher than 64% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,460housing units
13,460
Total Housing Units
10,862
Occupied Units
2,598
Vacant Units
2.02
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$674,000
Median Home Value
+198% vs state ZIP avg
$1,798
Median Rent
1964
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
505
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+405%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29403 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +405% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 315 |
| 2021 | +8.2% | 341 |
| 2022 | +18.9% | 406 |
| 2023 | +16.1% | 471 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 505 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,020 business establishments in ZIP 29403, employing approximately 13,595 people with a combined annual payroll of $846,213,000.
1,020
Businesses
13,595
Employees
$846.2M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 191 | 18.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 184 | 18.0% |
| Retail trade | 108 | 10.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 105 | 10.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 92 | 9.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 71 | 7.0% |
| Construction | 52 | 5.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 45 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 36 | 3.5% |
| Information | 28 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 27 | 2.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 24 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 19 | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 29403 vs 29409 →
ZIP 29403 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29464
Mount Pleasant (29464)
43,649 residents
- 29412
Charleston (29412)
35,850 residents
- 29407
Charleston (29407)
34,827 residents
- 29405
North Charleston (29405)
26,328 residents
- 29403
Charleston (29403)
20,818 residents
- 29401 10,895
Charleston (29401)
10,895 residents
- 29492 10,262
Charleston (29492)
10,262 residents
- 29439 2,399
Folly Beach (29439)
2,399 residents
- 29409 2,100
Charleston (29409)
2,100 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29403 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29403 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29482
Sullivans Island (29482)
$192,813 median income
- 29439
Folly Beach (29439)
$137,396 median income
- 29464
Mount Pleasant (29464)
$111,907 median income
- 29492
Charleston (29492)
$110,509 median income
- 29412
Charleston (29412)
$101,509 median income
- 29401
Charleston (29401)
$99,667 median income
- 29407
Charleston (29407)
$85,367 median income
- 29403 $66,944
Charleston (29403)
$66,944 median income
- 29405 $56,600
North Charleston (29405)
$56,600 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29403 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29409 | Charleston, SC | 2,100 | 1.1 mi |
| 29424 | Charleston, SC | 389 | 1.5 mi |
| 29401 | Charleston, SC | 10,895 | 1.9 mi |
| 29407 | Charleston, SC | 34,827 | 3.2 mi |
| 29405 | North Charleston, SC | 26,328 | 4.1 mi |
| 29412 | Charleston, SC | 35,850 | 6.6 mi |
| 29464 | Mount Pleasant, SC | 43,649 | 5.2 mi |
| 29482 | Sullivans Island, SC | 1,791 | 6.8 mi |
| 29439 | Folly Beach, SC | 2,399 | 9.6 mi |
| 29492 | Charleston, SC | 10,262 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29403, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,818 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Charleston County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29403 in?
ZIP code 29403 (Charleston) is located in Charleston County, South Carolina. Charleston County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/charleston-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29403?
ZIP code 29403 in Charleston, SC has a population of 20,818 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29403?
The median household income in ZIP 29403 is $66,944, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29403?
The median home value in ZIP 29403 is $674,000, which is 142% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29403?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29403 is White at 62.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29403?
ZIP code 29403 has 1,020 business establishments employing approximately 13,595 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29403?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29403 are: Accommodation and food services (191), Professional, scientific, and technical services (184), Retail trade (108). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29403?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29403 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 405%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 29403?
In ZIP code 29403, 74.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 60.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 29403?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29403 is 17.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29403?
In ZIP code 29403, approximately 32.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29403?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29403 is 25.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29403's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29403 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Charleston, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.