Town · South Carolina
James Island, South Carolina
James Island, town, in Charleston County, South Carolina. James Island had 12,660 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,621 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,198 (±26). GEOID 4536430.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,660
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,621 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,198 ±26
Median household income
$104,217
±$7,969 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$508,600
±$43,683 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,695
±$703 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is James Island and what county is it in?
James Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 2,401 residents per square mile in 2020.
James Island is in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in James Island, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,660 people lived in James Island on July 1, 2025, up 5.6% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 11,621 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,198 (±26).
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,198 ±26 | 420,264 | +122 |
| Households | 4,666 ±251 | 178,975 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.61 ±0.14 | 2.29 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,971 ±321 | 209,803 | no clear change |
James Island's population since 2015
From 11,979 in 2015 to 12,660 in 2025: up 5.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for James Island as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in James Island?
The median resident of James Island is 41.7 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.7%. 2.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 ±2.5 | 39.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.4% ±3.3 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.8% ±2.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±2.8 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±1.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.3% ±4.6 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.7% ±4.0 pts | 22.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9% ±1.4 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.5% ±2.0 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.5% ±3.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1% ±3.6 pts | 11.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1% ±1.8 pts | 8.3% | −5.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.6% ±2.2 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.5% ±5.2 pts | 50.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.5% ±3.6 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.6% ±2.1 pts | 84.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.0 pts | 4.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in James Island earn?
Half of James Island's 4,666 households earn less than $104,217 a year (±$7,969), against $88,494 in Charleston County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $100,516 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $104,217 ±$7,969 | $88,494 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $135,015 ±$20,537 | $131,674 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,756 ±$7,450 | $56,921 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.6% ±2.5 pts | 11.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.3% ±6.0 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.4% ±2.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.4% ±3.7 pts | 96.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.7% ±4.5 pts | 88.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in James Island?
Owners occupy 87.5% of James Island's occupied homes and renters 12.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $508,600 by its owner (±$43,683). The median renter pays $1,695 a month including utilities, and 31.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $508,600 ±$43,683 | $489,100 | +$138,653 |
| Median gross rent | $1,695 ±$703 | $1,620 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.8% ±18.9 pts | 44.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,210 ±$148 | $2,167 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.5% ±3.7 pts | 63.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.5% ±3.7 pts | 36.1% | – |
| Housing units | 4,971 ±321 | 209,803 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±8.4 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 91.7% ±2.9 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% ±1.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.2% ±1.8 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.0% ±3.3 pts | 5.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in James Island work and get to work?
73.1% of James Island's workers drive alone and 18.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes.
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±4.0 pts | 66.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 73.1% ±6.0 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±1.8 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.2% ±5.3 pts | 17.7% | +12.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.5 min ±2.2 | 25.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in James Island?
3 census tracts lie mostly in James Island, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $104,029 (Tract 20.06) to $155,132 (Tract 20.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 20.02Charleston County | 6,208 | $110,520 |
| Tract 20.06Charleston County | 5,041 | $104,029 |
| Tract 20.05Charleston County | 6,173 | $119,464 |
| Tract 20.07Charleston County | 3,689 | $155,132 |
| Tract 20.08Charleston County | 4,116 | $82,824 |
| Tract 19.02Charleston County | 4,844 | $60,221 |
| Tract 20.09Charleston County | 4,825 | $87,877 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in James Island) · Census block assignment files
How does James Island compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, James Island is the 2,721st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 38th-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
James Island ranks 19th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 38th | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 70th | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 13th | 261 |
| Median household income | 19th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 24th | 259 |
| Median home value | 14th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 14th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 209th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25th | 226 |
| Median age | 82nd | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 27th | 258 |
| Work from home | 20th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 172nd | 261 |
James Island's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare James Island with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for James Island?
15 of the 57 figures for James Island on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for James Island are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in James Island.