Who moves to Charleston, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Charleston County, SC, home of Charleston, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 26,848from other US counties
- Moved out
- 25,044to other US counties
- Net
- +1,804more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 201tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Berkeley County, SC | 3,878 |
| Dorchester County, SC | 2,637 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 546 |
| Richland County, SC (Columbia) | 443 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 388 |
| Beaufort County, SC | 358 |
| Horry County, SC | 300 |
| Lexington County, SC | 280 |
| Fulton County, GA (Atlanta) | 263 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 230 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 226 |
| New York County, NY | 215 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Berkeley County, SC | 5,708 |
| Dorchester County, SC | 4,144 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 498 |
| Richland County, SC (Columbia) | 406 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 393 |
| Beaufort County, SC | 300 |
| Colleton County, SC | 297 |
| Horry County, SC | 249 |
| Lexington County, SC | 218 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 180 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 178 |
| Georgetown County, SC | 177 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 10,003 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in South Carolina and 16,845 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 546 |
| Richland County, SC (Columbia) | 443 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 388 |
| Lexington County, SC | 280 |
| Fulton County, GA (Atlanta) | 263 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 230 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 226 |
| New York County, NY | 215 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 498 |
| Richland County, SC (Columbia) | 406 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 393 |
| Lexington County, SC | 218 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 180 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 178 |
| York County, SC (Rock Hill) | 158 |
| New York County, NY | 137 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Charleston come from?
Most people moving into Charleston County, SC come from nearby counties, led by Berkeley County, SC (3,878 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Mecklenburg County, NC.
Where do people leaving Charleston move to?
The top destination is Berkeley County, SC (5,708 people). Farther away, the most popular is Greenville County, SC.
Are more people moving to Charleston or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 26,848 people moved into Charleston County, SC from elsewhere in the US and 25,044 moved out, a net gain of 1,804 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Charleston with any city it trades people with, like Charleston vs Charlotte, Charleston vs Columbia, Charleston vs Greenville, Charleston vs Atlanta.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Charleston.