A port metro where suburban growth reshapes a historically decisive region
Charleston-North Charleston has shifted from a reliably one-sided coastal enclave into a more competitive metro as in-migration from northeastern and midwestern states accelerates population growth and diversifies the electorate.
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 420K | D+5.7 | 111,427 | 99,265 | 214,521 | 13.2% |
| Charleston | 381K | D+5.7 | 111,427 | 99,265 | 214,521 | 13.2% |
| Charleston | 346K | D+5.7 | 111,427 | 99,265 | 214,521 | 13.2% |
| Charleston | 310K | D+5.7 | 111,427 | 99,265 | 214,521 | 13.2% |
| Berkeley | 247K | R+16.3 | 46,416 | 64,777 | 112,834 | 7.0% |
| Berkeley | 199K | R+16.3 | 46,416 | 64,777 | 112,834 | 7.0% |
| Dorchester | 167K | R+14.6 | 32,489 | 43,839 | 77,764 | 4.8% |
| Berkeley | 163K | R+16.3 | 46,416 | 64,777 | 112,834 | 7.0% |
| Dorchester | 149K | R+14.6 | 32,489 | 43,839 | 77,764 | 4.8% |
| Berkeley | 143K | R+16.3 | 46,416 | 64,777 | 112,834 | 7.0% |
| Dorchester | 122K | R+14.6 | 32,489 | 43,839 | 77,764 | 4.8% |
| Dorchester | 96K | R+14.6 | 32,489 | 43,839 | 77,764 | 4.8% |
| Group | Local | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 63.6% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(13) | 26.9% | 12.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 5.1% | 19.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 2.3% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 1.7% | 6.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(10) | 0.6% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(1) | 0.4% | 0.9% |
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -16.9pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.3% | 38.2% | — | — | |
| 11.0% | 25.8% | — | — | |
| 6.5% | 15.3% | — | — | |
| 6.3% | 14.8% | — | — | |
| 2.3% | 5.4% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 0.8% | 1.9% | — | — |
| 0.2% | 0.5% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 57.2% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area? 2,743,055 residents across 12 counties.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate vs Governor | R+13.8 | D+1.5 | 15.3pp |