For Sale
Charleston, SC
Commercial Real Estate Market Trends & Data
$543 per SF
Avg asking sale price
$30 per SF
Avg asking lease rate
8,729 SF
Avg unit lease size
12,335 SF
Avg building size for sale
5.88%
Average cap rate
Charleston's Demographic Profile
Charleston has 73,254 households and a median income of $80,020, providing context for rent absorption and tenant demand across retail and multifamily assets. A +8% five-year population trend is a key signal for evaluating long-term demand in this market.
| Key Demographic Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 164,439 |
| # Households | 73,254 |
| Median age | 38 |
| Median household income | $80,020 |
| Avg household size | 2.0 |
| Renter-occupied housing units | 33,428 |
| 5-year population change | +8% |
{{marketTabHeadings[activeMarketTab]}}
↻ Updated Monthly{{marketTabDescriptions[activeMarketTab]}}
| Nearby Office Markets | Avg Cost/SF | Typical Size | Cap Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $447 | 5,703 SF | 6.50% |
| North Charleston | $389 | 11,120 SF | 7.68% |
| Hanahan | $236 | 28,056 SF | 7.68% |
| James Island | $459 | 2,067 SF | 5.30% |
| Nearby Industrial Markets | Avg Cost/SF | Typical Size | Cap Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $250 | 30,496 SF | 7.71% |
| North Charleston | $305 | 34,649 SF | 7.67% |
| Daniel Island | $323 | 12,000 SF | 7.71% |
| Nearby Retail Markets | Avg Cost/SF | Typical Size |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $636 | 9,658 SF |
| North Charleston | $610 | 10,453 SF |
| Hanahan | $272 | 19,410 SF |
| James Island | $494 | 2,379 SF |
| Daniel Island | $202 | 21,586 SF |
| Nearby Multifamily Markets | Avg Cost/SF | Typical Size | Cap Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $647 | 21,845 SF | 7.08% |
| North Charleston | $691 | 22,052 SF | 7.08% |
| Hanahan | $1,000 | 13,050 SF | 6.00% |
| Johns Island | $200 | 8,741 SF | 7.08% |
Commercial Properties For Sale in Charleston
The listings below reflect how current market pricing and building scale translate into active opportunities available today.
For Sale
For Sale
Average Price For Sale
↻ Updated MonthlyAverage Price For Lease
↻ Updated MonthlyNumber of Listings
↻ Updated MonthlyCap Rate
↻ Updated MonthlyHow Investors Evaluate Commercial Real Estate Markets
Nearby Commercial Markets
Comparing nearby markets helps investors see whether Charleston pricing and building scale sit above, below, or in line with surrounding areas.
| Commercial Markets | Avg Cost/SF | Average Size |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $543 | 12,335 SF |
| North Charleston | $511 | 14,081 SF |
| Hanahan | $365 | 23,653 SF |
| James Island | $423 | 4,551 SF |
| Sullivans Island | $1,367 | 512 SF |
Regional Demographic Comparison
This comparison places Charleston alongside nearby cities to show how population size, household counts, and income levels differ across the region. Viewing these markets side by side helps investors understand whether local demand and income characteristics are concentrated in Charleston or distributed across surrounding areas.
| City | Population | # Households | Age | Median Household Income | Avg Household Size | Renter Occupied Housing Units | Five Yr Pop Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 164,439 | 73,254 | 38 | $80,020 | 2 | 33,428 | 8% |
| North Charleston | 121,625 | 48,404 | 36 | $53,834 | 2 | 26,114 | 7% |
| Hanahan | 21,321 | 8,209 | 38 | $80,835 | 3 | 3,075 | 14% |
| James Island | 11,454 | 4,613 | 42 | $96,781 | 2 | 854 | 4% |
| Sullivans Island | 2,266 | 889 | 51 | $153,387 | 3 | 123 | 10% |
Disclaimer: The figures on this page reflect LoopNet's active commercial listings in Charleston, SC and update as inventory changes. Averages can shift between periods or vary across property types depending on the mix of listings available at a given time, so individual metrics may not reflect broader market trends. These figures are best used as directional benchmarks for early market evaluation. For comprehensive commercial real estate data and analytics, subscribe to CoStar.
FAQs About Commercial Investing in Charleston
View All Commercial Real Estate For Sale in Charleston
Is Charleston a good market for a first-time commercial real estate investor?
Charleston offers commercial properties across a wide range of sizes and price points. By reviewing the market data and benchmarks on this page, first-time investors can better understand what a typical commercial property looks like before committing capital and narrowing in on specific listings.
How can this market data help me decide whether to buy commercial property for my business in Charleston?
The pricing and size metrics on this page help business owners compare the cost of ownership against leasing in Charleston. Typical building sizes and asking prices provide a starting point for evaluating space needs, budget fit, and long term occupancy costs before engaging lenders or brokers.
What should conservative investors focus on when evaluating commercial properties in Charleston?
Conservative investors often prioritize manageable deal sizes, stable pricing ranges, and cap rate benchmarks shown for Charleston. These metrics help assess whether current market conditions support steady income potential without relying on aggressive assumptions.
How does Charleston compare to nearby commercial real estate markets?
Nearby market comparisons highlight differences in pricing, building scale, and cap rate ranges relative to Charleston. Reviewing these side by side helps experienced investors identify relative value, pricing premiums, or alternative markets that may better align with return targets.
How can this page support early-stage deal screening for Charleston acquisitions?
This page provides high-level benchmarks for pricing, deal size, and observed cap rates in Charleston, which are useful for initial market filtering. Institutional and data-driven investors often use these signals to prioritize listings that meet size, pricing, and return thresholds before deeper underwriting.
Nearby Market Trends
