Edisto Island, SC · standard

ZIP Code 29438

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

2,408
12/sq mi
$86,979
Median income
$642,400
Median home value
53.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Edisto Island pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 30%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 8%
home value, US ZIPs
12
people per sq mi
88%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29438 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 29438 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 194.2 square miles in Edisto Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. The area is home to 2,408 residents, producing a population density of 12 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 29438 against South Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 29438 sits at $86,979 (36% above the South Carolina average), while per-capita income is $70,959. The poverty rate stands at 6.9% and the unemployment rate at 6.9%. On housing, the median home value is $642,400 (184% above the state average) with median rent at $888 per month, and 88.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 29438 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 53.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 62.4, and the average commute is . We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Charleston County, so you can benchmark 29438 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 29438

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29438.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29438, Edisto Island, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

2,408

Population

194.2

Area (sq mi)

12

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 29438?

62.4

Median Age

48.4%

Male

51.6%

Female

2.5%

Foreign-Born

White 80.9%
African American 11.1%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%

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?

$86,979

Median Household Income

+36% vs state

$70,959

Per Capita Income

6.9%

Poverty Rate

6.9%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 29438 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$86,979 Top 30% higher than 70% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 69.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.1%

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

What does housing look like?

3,573

Total Housing Units

1,501

Occupied Units

2,072

Vacant Units

1.88

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 88.1%
Renter 11.9%

$642,400

Median Home Value

+184% vs state

$888

Median Rent

1991

Median Year Built

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

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+21.1%

YoY Change (2024)

303

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+203%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 29438 have increased 21.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +203% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.7% 142
2021 +15.9% 164
2022 +19.0% 196
2023 +28.1% 251
2024 +21.1% 303

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 98 business establishments in ZIP 29438, employing approximately 676 people with a combined annual payroll of $27,721,000.

98

Businesses

676

Employees

$27.7M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 16 16.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 16.3%
Accommodation and food services 15 15.3%
Other services (except public administration) 12 12.2%
Construction 9 9.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 6 6.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 6.1%
Finance and insurance 5 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 5.1%
Health care and social assistance 3 3.1%

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 29438 vs 29449 →

ZIP 29438 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 29438 ranks #3 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 29438 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 29438 ranks #3 of 4 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
29449 Hollywood, SC 7,749 9.2 mi
29487 Wadmalaw Island, SC 2,725 9.8 mi
29452 Jacksonboro, SC 394 11.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Charleston County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 29438 in?
ZIP code 29438 (Edisto Island) 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 29438?
ZIP code 29438 in Edisto Island, SC has a population of 2,408 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29438?
The median household income in ZIP 29438 is $86,979, which is 14% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29438?
The median home value in ZIP 29438 is $642,400, which is 131% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29438?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29438 is White at 80.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29438?
ZIP code 29438 has 98 business establishments employing approximately 676 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29438?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29438 are: Retail trade (16), Real estate and rental and leasing (16), Accommodation and food services (15). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29438?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29438 increased by 21.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 203%. 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 29438?
In ZIP code 29438, 69.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29438?
In ZIP code 29438, approximately 88.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29438?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29438 is 6.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Edisto Island, SC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.