The climate of greater Charleston is considered "temperate to subtropical." On average, the region enjoys 230 days of sunshine each year, and the average growing season lasts 294 days.

Latitude	32° 54' N
Longitude	80° 02' W
Average Daily Temperature	65.3° F; 18.5° C
Average Daily High	75.9° F; 24.4° C
Average Daily Low	54.7° F; 12.6° C
Average Days with Sunshine	63%
Average Precipitation	51.53"; 130.89 cm
Average Relative Humidity	86%

Monthly Averages, Charleston International Airport

Month	Temp (°F)	Temp (°C)	Relative Humidity	Precipitation (inches)	Precipitation (centimeters)
January	49.2	9.6	69.0%	3.20	8.13
February	51.3	10.7	67.5%	3.17	8.05
March	57.6	14.2	66.5%	3.97	10.08
April	64.9	18.3	66.5%	2.70	6.86
May	72.6	22.6	69.0%	3.51	8.92
June	78.6	25.9	72.5%	5.77	14.66
July	81.4	27.5	75.0%	7.34	18.64
August	80.5	26.9	76.5%	6.82	17.32
September	76.3	24.6	76.0%	5.38	13.67
October	66.8	19.3	72.5%	2.93	7.44
November	58.0	14.4	70.0%	2.33	5.92
December	50.8	10.4	69.5%	2.95	7.49
Annual	65.7	18.7	71.0%	50.08	127.20
Source: Southeast Regional Climate Center

Seasonal Conditions

In the Spring, surfers hit the beaches and Charleston's festival season is in full gear.	Spring - In the Charleston region, the spring season is the most spectacular time of the year. From early March into early June, azaleas, dogwoods and other spring garden flowers bloom in abundance. Average springtime temperatures range from 58° F (14.4° C) to 72° F (22.2° C).
Summer is the time for local farmer's markets and days spent on the water.	Summer - Summers in the Charleston region are warm and humid. Average daily temperatures range from 78° F (25.6° C) to 82° F (27.8° C), with daily highs averaging between 87° F (30.6° C) to 91° F (32.8° C). The area's coastal location results in a cooling effect, which often helps keep temperatures several degrees cooler than those inland. Summer is the area's wettest season, with 41% of total rainfall occurring during this period. However, cooling afternoon showers or thunderstorms are responsible for much of this rain.
Nothing says 'Fall' more than oyster roasts and other Lowcountry favorites.	Autumn - From the start of autumn in late September continuing into early November, the weather is typically sunny and temperature extremes are rare. Pre-winter cold spells generally occur by late November. In September, temperatures average 76° F (24.4° C). By November, the average daily temperature has fallen to 58° F (14.4° C).
Winter is a special time for Charleston locals, with intimate gatherings of friends and neighbors.	Winter - Winter in the Charleston region starts in December and runs through February. The winter season is typically mild, with periods of rain and a slight chance of snow flurries in late December and early January. Daily temperatures average between 47° F (8.3° C) and 52° F (11.1° C). The region generally experiences its first freeze in early December, with the last freeze in late February. Temperatures of 20° F (6.7° C) or less rarely occur.

Compared to many other thriving coastal communities, Charleston offers a reasonable cost of living according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. This quarterly survey compares relative living costs for middle-management households among U.S. metropolitan areas and cities. Charleston residents also get a break when it comes to taxes, with the area's state and local tax burden significantly lower than the national average.


Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Q2/2007

The composite index is based on six components. The component index figures for the Charleston area are as follows:

Components	Index
Grocery Items	102.3
Housing	90.6
Utilities	102.2
Transportation	96.8
Health Care	109.5
Miscellaneous Goods and Services	102.1
All Items (Composite)	98.7

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Q2/2007
Prepared by: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

S.C. Tax Burden Lower than U.S. Average

The South Carolina tax average is lower than the United States for property, sales & use, individual and corporate income.

For more information on personal income, sales and property taxes, visit our taxes and incentives section.


Source: TaxFoundation.org using US Census Bureau data, 2007

Tax Burden, 2005	South Carolina	United States
State and Local Taxes Per Capita, total	$2,779	$3,698
Property	$880	$1,132
Sales & Use	$714	$887
Individual Income	$634	$813
Corporate Income	$58	$145
State and Local Taxes per $1,000 of personal income	$103.85	$112.84

Source: TaxFoundation.org using US Census Bureau data, 2007

With more than 2,000 physicians, 10 major medical facilities and a strong commitment to medical research, the Charleston region offers a vital health and wellness community. Three nationally recognized hospital systems serve the region, as well as numerous medical centers considered among the best in the United States. Ambulatory care centers and branches of these medical centers are located throughout the region.

Area medical facilities offer a full range of specialized diagnostic and patient care options, including:

• The only designated Level 1 Trauma Center in coastal South Carolina
• A national top 10 children's hospital for emergency care
• An emergency medical transport service, available 24 hours a day, to transfer patients by helicopter, fixed-wing airplane or ground ambulance services
• The most complete line of cardiac and vascular services in the state of South Carolina
• Comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care
• One of the nation's top 10 psychiatric research centers in terms of research funding
• The only center in South Carolina performing a full range of transplants, including heart, kidney, pancreas, liver, cornea, small bowel and bone marrow
• A national top 40 hospital in the area of digestive diseases
• The only PET scanner in coastal South Carolina

Major Hospitals & Medical Facilities

Hospitals / Medical Facilities	Contact	Beds/Employees
Charleston Memorial Hospital	www.musc.edu/cmh	172 beds; 135 employees
East Cooper Medical Center	www.eastcoopermedctr.com	100 beds; 600 employees
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)	www.musc.edu	752 beds; 10,000 employees
Ralph H. Johnson V.A. Medical Center	www.charleston.va.gov	145 beds; 1,100 employees
Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Two area hospital facilities)	www.ropersaintfrancis.com	594 beds; 2,900 employees
Trident Health System (Two area hospital facilities)	www.tridenthealthsystem.com	390 beds; 2,000 employees
Naval Health Clinic Charleston	www.nhchasn.med.navy.mil	540 employees

Source: Center for Business Research, 9/07

In addition to the wide availability of Western medicine, this region also supports an abundant range of wellness programs, yoga and exercise centers, and a college for massage therapy.

For a comprehensive list of fitness centers, chiropractors and salons/spas in the area, please visit PalmettoBizBuzz.

With 27 incorporated communities, residential areas range from the rural towns of Jamestown and St. George to the vibrant, urban areas of Charleston and North Charleston. The growing demand for housing has spawned a number of new residential opportunities throughout the region, and most price ranges are well represented. For current residential real estate listings, visit the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

Charleston S.C. MSA Residential Home Sales by Zip Code Area

Area Name	Zip Code	Residential Units Sold, 2007	Median Selling Price, 2007	Average Selling Price, 2007
Total Charleston S.C. MSA		12,516	$209,020	$300,446
Adams Run	29426	3	$162,500	$199,166
Awendaw	29429	8	$390,000	$1,034,937
Bonneau	29431	38	$93,750	$169,064
Charleston Peninsula	29401	262	$732,500	$1,013,245
Charleston Peninsula	29403	274	$331,250	$408,690
Cross	29436	16	$99,000	$97,101
Daniel Island/Wando/Cainhoy	29492	507	$398,000	$480,422
Dorchester	29437	14	$160,000	$175,278
Edisto Island	29438	125	$365,000	$476,697
Folly Beach	29439	95	$570,000	$611,582
Goose Creek	29445	1,045	$171,983	$184,968
Hanahan	29410	292	$199,990	$201,894
Harleyville	29448	5	$141,000	$99,300
Hollywood	29449	53	$263,000	$334,300
Huger	29450	13	$125,000	$155,280
Isle Of Palms	29451	152	$912,500	$1,180,388
James Island	29412	682	$261,000	$311,671
Jamestown	29453	4	$68,550	$170,245
Johns Island	29455	410	$261,809	$443,987
Ladson	29456	646	$155,000	$157,293
McClellanville	29458	11	$265,000	$245,227
Moncks Corner	29461	586	$189,995	$194,489
Mount Pleasant	29464	883	$337,000	$462,013
Mount Pleasant	29466	855	$362,500	$398,459
North Charleston	29405	267	$123,000	$163,091
North Charleston	29406	346	$150,000	$155,579
North Charleston	29418	368	$162,110	$166,556
North Charleston	29420	315	$179,900	$234,437
Pineville	29468	6	$91,700	$114,566
Pinopolis	29469	6	$239,500	$255,500
Ravenel	29470	17	$182,500	$263,154
Reevesville	29471	4	$143,000	$324,000
Ridgeville	29472	29	$145,000	$175,125
St. George	29477	27	$105,000	$116,322
St. Stephen	29479	29	$107,800	$95,822
Sullivans Island	29482	27	$1,900,000	$2,210,342
Summerville	29483	1,359	$177,000	$198,626
Summerville	29485	1,343	$201,793	$214,165
Wadmalaw Island	29487	13	$710,000	$821,310
West Ashley	29407	571	$201,000	$242,046
West Ashley	29414	841	$218,500	$236,206
Source: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, 9/2008

Apartment Rentals

The Charleston region has a large number of apartment rental options. The average monthly apartment rent for a two-bedroom, two-bath unfurnished apartment excluding all utilities except water is $896.

Apartments: Average Monthly Rental by Sub-Market (Feb 2007)

Submarket	1-bedroom unit	2-bedroom unit	3-bedroom unit
Downtown Charleston	$654	$731	$649
West of the Ashley River	656	745	876
Goose Creek	632	709	838
James Island	799	935	1,098
Mount Pleasant	834	961	1,055
North Charleston	587	686	781
Summerville	629	736	906
Source: Carolinas Real Data, www.aptindex.com

For information on current residential real estate offerings, visit the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

More than 70,000 households in the Charleston region include children under the age of 18 (totaling more than 136,000 children). For two-thirds of those children, working parents mean a high demand for reliable child care services. In addition to private day care centers and in-home child care, many public schools offer pre-school programs. To search for child care services in the region, please visit PalmettoBizBuzz or learn more about our area's school programs.

From the mouths of Charleston parents regarding child care day services in the area:

"I really feel my son has advanced since joining this school. The staff cares about the children and they all seem to love their jobs."

"My children have been going here for two years. We are very happy. My children are challenged daily by the age appropriate curriculum and loved by the caring staff members."

"Great teachers, caring atmosphere, structured curriculum, wonderful extras. Clean, bright in a quiet church environment. My children have flourished here and made lasting friendships."

For many area residents, religion and spirituality play a central role in their lives. Charleston was founded on the notion of religious freedom, and many historic churches and synagogues are still in use. Often referred to as the "Holy City," newer churches and places of worship are located throughout the region.

For a comprehensive list of churches and religious centers in the area, please visit PalmettoBizBuzz.

Church steeples can be seen throughout Charleston's skyline adding the historic charm and architectural beauty of the region.

From the mouths of Charleston residents regarding churches and worship centers in the area:

"Great church community! Lots of love and fellowship and lots of caring can be found at this church! Good, practical teaching and great music! Wonderful 35-plus singles ministry!"

"Nice, low-key friendly place to look for a new church. Nice people - a younger 20s to early 50s type group at the modern service, lots of emphasis on family and children's classes/Sunday school. Excellent pre-school is open to non-members, too."

"Wonderful church family! Very friendly, services range from Sat evenings for the younger folks to traditional Sun 8 a.m. svcs for the older folks and regular services at 8:45 & 11 for everyone else. Music groups of all sorts and ages available, sports groups as well. If you are looking for a church home this is the place!"

Local media websites are excellent resources for learning about business and community issues in the Charleston region.

Newspapers / Online News

The Post and Courier - Published each morning, this is the Charleston region's daily newspaper.
Charleston Regional Business Journal - Produced twice monthly, this journal chronicles business activities in the region.
Charleston City Paper - The Charleston area's alternative weekly newspaper; includes news, features and entertainment.
Summerville Journal Scene - Published twice each week, this newspaper covers the growing Summerville area.
Swamp Fox - This online resource compiles news of the knowledge economy in South Carolina.

Blogs

Charleston Inspired - A grassroots effort to promote the Charleston regional branding initiative, Charleston Inspired.
Charleston's Most Unique - A word of mouth directory for businesses, people, places & events.
Charleston Magazine - Information about Charleston 'society', 'style' and 'Spoleto Festival USA'.

Magazines

Charleston Magazine - This glossy, four-color monthly publication provides lifestyle articles for locals and frequent visitors.
Skirt! - This monthly magazine is focused on issues of importance to women.

Television Stations

WCSC TV 5 - Local CBS affiliate.
WCIV TV 4 - Local ABC affiliate.
WCBD TV 2 - Local NBC affiliate.

News Radio

730 WSC - Local station featuring a news / talk format.
1250 WTMA - Local station featuring a news / talk format.
94.3 WSC FM - Local station featuring a news / talk format.

For a full list of local media, visit SCIway.net.