City profile
James Island, SC
Charleston County · Population 12,198
James Island is a town in Charleston County, SC with about 12,198 residents and a typical home value near $509,000. It is 4 miles from Charleston, SC, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Humid subtropical
Winter avg
51°F
Summer avg
82°F
Sunny days / yr
230
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$508,600
Typical monthly housing
$2,996
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
117
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.55%
- State income tax (top)
- 6.2%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.50%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 99/100
Top hazards: Coastal flooding, Hurricane, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
13 mi to Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 52% Democratic / 46% Republican
Community
Population
12,198
Black population
12.7%
County
Charleston County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸SC is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes (coast)
Highlights
- About 12,198 residents
- Typical home value about $509,000
- 4 miles from Charleston, SC
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.