PlainZIP

North Charleston, SC · standard

ZIP Code 29420

Dorchester County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

21,834
751/sq mi
$72,661
Median income
$331,700
Median home value
32.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

North Charleston pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 49%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 29%
home value, US ZIPs
751
people per sq mi
62%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29420 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 29420 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in North Charleston, Dorchester County, South Carolina, with 21,834 residents across 29.1 square miles, a density of 751 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 29420 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $72,661 (14% above the South Carolina average), while per-capita income is $39,165. Local economic indicators show a 12.0% poverty rate alongside 4.4% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $331,700 (47% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,529 monthly, and 62.2% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 32.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.7, and the average commute is 28 minutes. To put 29420 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Dorchester County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 29420

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in North Charleston, SC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29420.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 29420, North 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

21,834

Population

29.1

Area (sq mi)

751

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 29420?

34.7

Median Age

46.3%

Male

53.7%

Female

6.7%

Foreign-Born

White 47.3%
African American 39.4%
Asian 4.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%

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?

$72,661

Median Household Income

+14% vs state

$39,165

Per Capita Income

12.0%

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Unemployment Rate

27.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 29420 ranks nationally

North Charleston, SC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$72,661 Top 49% higher than 51% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 58.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,957

Total Housing Units

9,515

Occupied Units

442

Vacant Units

2.52

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 62.2%
Renter 37.8%

$331,700

Median Home Value

+47% vs state

$1,529

Median Rent

1999

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

+8.4%

YoY Change (2024)

290

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+190%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 29420 have increased 8.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +190% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.1% 178
2021 +14.3% 203
2022 +26.3% 256
2023 +4.3% 268
2024 +8.4% 290

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 325 business establishments in ZIP 29420, employing approximately 4,704 people with a combined annual payroll of $200,625,000.

325

Businesses

4,704

Employees

$200.6M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 44 13.5%
Accommodation and food services 42 12.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 36 11.1%
Health care and social assistance 33 10.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 26 8.0%
Other services (except public administration) 25 7.7%
Retail trade 24 7.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 18 5.5%
Transportation and warehousing 17 5.2%
Finance and insurance 17 5.2%
Wholesale trade 11 3.4%
Educational services 10 3.1%
Manufacturing 8 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 1.9%
Information 3 0.9%

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 29420 vs 29456 →

ZIP 29420 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29420 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 29420 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 29420 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
29456 Ladson, SC 27,864 3.7 mi
29406 Charleston, SC 29,314 4.1 mi
29423 Charleston, SC 956 3.6 mi
29418 North Charleston, SC 23,540 3.8 mi
29404 Charleston Afb, SC 1,348 3.9 mi
29410 Hanahan, SC 17,816 5.8 mi
29414 Charleston, SC 31,883 6.7 mi
29485 Summerville, SC 45,057 5.4 mi
29445 Goose Creek, SC 53,588 7.9 mi
29405 North Charleston, SC 26,328 8.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Dorchester County

29483 standard
Summerville, SC
Pop: 66,731
29485 standard
Summerville, SC
Pop: 45,057
29456 standard
Ladson, SC
Pop: 27,864
29472 standard
Ridgeville, SC
Pop: 9,416
29477 standard
Saint George, SC
Pop: 6,789
29437 standard
Dorchester, SC
Pop: 2,380

Related Areas

Dorchester County North Charleston, SC South Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 29420 in? ▼
ZIP code 29420 (North Charleston) is located in Dorchester County, South Carolina. Dorchester County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dorchester-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29420? ▼
ZIP code 29420 in North Charleston, SC has a population of 21,834 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29420? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 29420 is $72,661, which is 5% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29420? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 29420 is $331,700, which is 19% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29420? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 29420 is White at 47.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29420? ▼
ZIP code 29420 has 325 business establishments employing approximately 4,704 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29420? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29420 are: Construction (44), Accommodation and food services (42), Professional, scientific, and technical services (36). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29420? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29420 increased by 8.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 190%. 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 29420? ▼
In ZIP code 29420, 58.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.4% 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 29420? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29420 is 27.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29420? ▼
In ZIP code 29420, approximately 62.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29420? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29420 is 12.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.