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 High-density area
- $72,661
- Median income Near-median income area
- $331,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 32.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29420 (North Charleston, SC) rose +8.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 267.5 in 2023 to 290.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $39,165. The poverty rate is 12.0%, with unemployment at 4.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $331,700 (47% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while 62.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,529.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dorchester County, so 29420 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 29420
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in North Charleston, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29420.
- Construction
Construction
44 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
42 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
36 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
33 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
26 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 29420?
34.7
Median Age
46.3%
Male
53.7%
Female
6.7%
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?
$72,661
Median Household Income
+14% vs state ZIP avg
$39,165
Per Capita Income
12.0%
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Unemployment Rate
27.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29420 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
North 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)
$72,661 Top 27% higher than 73% 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
9,957housing units
9,957
Total Housing Units
9,515
Occupied Units
442
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$331,700
Median Home Value
+47% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 29445
Goose Creek (29445)
53,588 residents
- 29485
Summerville (29485)
45,057 residents
- 29414
Charleston (29414)
31,883 residents
- 29406
Charleston (29406)
29,314 residents
- 29456
Ladson (29456)
27,864 residents
- 29405
North Charleston (29405)
26,328 residents
- 29418
North Charleston (29418)
23,540 residents
- 29420
North Charleston (29420)
21,834 residents
- 29410 17,816
Hanahan (29410)
17,816 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29420 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29420 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29414
Charleston (29414)
$99,529 median income
- 29410
Hanahan (29410)
$87,984 median income
- 29485
Summerville (29485)
$82,987 median income
- 29445
Goose Creek (29445)
$81,594 median income
- 29456
Ladson (29456)
$78,361 median income
- 29420
North Charleston (29420)
$72,661 median income
- 29418
North Charleston (29418)
$64,583 median income
- 29405
North Charleston (29405)
$56,600 median income
- 29404
Charleston Afb (29404)
$54,716 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29420, 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 (21,834 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Dorchester County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29420's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29420 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where North 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.