City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

James Island, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for James Island - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

11,738
Residents
$100,176
Median income
$454,200
Median home
$1,787
Median rent (state)

James Island - the verdict

James Island ranks in the 78th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

78th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
74th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: James Island, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 11,738 residents in James Island, a small town within South Carolina. The typical household in James Island brings in $100,176 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.0%. Typical homes in James Island are valued around $454,200, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. About 48.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,787 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

11,738 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$100,176 /yr

Poverty 4.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does James Island compare to other US cities?

James Island measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 78% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 74% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares James Island against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Median Home Value is James Island's strongest outlier among South Carolina cities

Among the 404 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, James Island ranks #25 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares James Island only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#34 of 403
92nd percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#15 of 441
89th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#25 of 404
94th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#359 of 439
18th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#33 of 441
92nd percentile in South Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

78thIncome percentile

78th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How James Island's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$454,200 18th percentile more affordable than 18% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. James Island $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - James Island, SC James Island, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not James Island, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution James Island, SC median $100,176/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
James Island, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for James Island, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
11,738
Median Income
$100,176
Median Home Value
$454,200
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Labor force participation
65.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.0%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
11,800 residents12,000 residents12,200 residents12,400 residents12,600 residents12,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,014 residents 12,660 residents ▲ +5.4%
James Island's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.3%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
15.1%
Other
2.6%

Based on 6,127 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county James Island sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,787/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Irmo
11,799 people
Oak Grove
12,031 people
Powdersville
11,321 people
Fountain Inn
11,307 people
Red Bank
10,950 people
Parker
12,564 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to James Island's 11,738 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

The Pinery, CO
11,740 people
Gulfport, FL
11,735 people
Miller Place, NY
11,743 people
View Park-Windsor Hills, CA
11,744 people
Lawrenceburg, TN
11,732 people
Winfield, KS
11,731 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to James Island's $100,176 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Scandia, MN
$100,179 median income
Valley View, OH
$100,179 median income
Fairbank, IA
$100,172 median income
Little Walnut, NM
$100,170 median income
Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN
$100,167 median income
Nisswa, MN
$100,167 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - James Island, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition James Island, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.4% 12.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 83.4% Black or African American 12.2% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 2.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How James Island compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
James Island (this city) 11,738 $100,176
Irmo 11,799 $85,137
Oak Grove 12,031 $75,506
Powdersville 11,321 $88,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about James Island, SC?

What is the population of James Island, SC? +

The population of James Island, SC stands at 11,738 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in James Island, SC? +

Median annual household income in James Island runs $100,176, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in James Island? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for James Island; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in James Island, SC? +

James Island's median home value sits at $454,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.