Whether you’re looking for a quiet historic neighborhood with a lot of charm, a hip up-and-coming hub with tons of nightlife, or something in-between, odds are you’ll find it in
Charleston.
Ansonborough
Reputation: Wealthy, charming, historic, families and professionals
Hotspots: FIG, South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston County Public Library Main Branch
Those living in the desirable historic neighborhood of Ansonborough have their pick of beautiful stately homes. Georgian, Greek Revival, and brick row style homes line the tree canopied streets, where residents are always out walking to nearby upscale restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries.
Bus lines run through the neighborhood, but it’s also easy to walk or bike to nearby downtown Charleston neighborhoods. Harbor views and private gardens provide residents with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Charleston.
Cannonborough-Elliotborough
Reputation: Young professionals, families, independent businesses
Hotspots:The Grocery, Prohibition, Trattoria Lucca, Elliotborough Mini Bar
Cannonborough-Elliotborough is a neighborhood with perfect balance. Beautiful recently fixed up Victorians are balanced with sleek modern architecture. A thriving independent commercial district is balanced with quiet residential streets.
Students and young professionals drawn to the area’s nightlife balance out professors from the nearby College of Charleston and Medical University.
If Cannonborough-Elliotborough didn’t sound ideal before, this thriving neighborhood is also centrally located and easily walkable.
Daniel Island
Reputation: Families, empty nesters, wealthy
Hotspots: Wasabi, Daniel Island Club, public docks
Living in Daniel Island is like going on a permanent vacation. You’ll find residents biking along the town’s many bike paths, swimming or taking their boat out at the public docks, golfing at one of the many courses, and just generally enjoying the many green spaces.
Although Daniel Island is technically a town, it’s just ten minutes from downtown Charleston, so we’ve included it. It’s separated by the many creeks and rivers surrounding the island that give residents beautiful waterfront views.
Eastside
Reputation: Up-and-coming, families, college grads, affordable
Hotspots: Palmetto Brewing Company, Hannibal’s Kitchen, Martins Park
Eastside Charleston is a neighborhood on the peninsula that the old Cooper River bridges once ran over. Since those bridges have been torn down and replaced, the neighborhood is changing rapidly into a unique, vibrant community.
Views of the Cooper River and new businesses popping up along Columbus Street and East Bay have Charleston residents once again flocking to this historic neighborhood.
Folly Beach
Reputation: Touristy, eclectic, young professionals, empty nesters
Hotspots: Lost Dog Cafe, Folly Beach Crab Shack, miles of beaches
Located ten minutes from downtown Charleston, this Folly Island neighborhood draws in a lot of tourists, but has a stable year-round population for whom every day is a vacation. The price for a daily vacation isn’t cheap, but most residents feel it’s well worth it.
Surfers, sunbathers, and swimmers crowd the beach during Charleston summers, and restaurants and bars line Folly Beach Road, providing residents with plenty of nightlife.
French Quarter
Reputation: Historic, wealthy, professionals, families, artsy
Hotspots: Dock Street Theater, Cypress, Waterfront Park
Charleston’s French Quarter isn’t just a gorgeous historic district with beautiful homes and converted condos. It’s also home to some of the best art and culture in Charleston.
Residents enjoy gallery hopping during their evenings at the Charleston Art Walk, or seeing a play at the famous Dock Street Theater.
This gorgeous neighborhood also offers plenty of outdoor activities along the Cooper River at the Waterfront Park.
Hampton Park Terrace
Reputation: Residential, families, military
Hotspots: Hampton Park, The Citadel
Hampton Park Terrace provides a quiet, residential life just a quick walk or bike ride away from lively nearby peninsula neighborhoods. Houses range from quaint relatively affordable cottages to stately homes along Hampton Park, which provides plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation.
The Citadel Military College is also located nearby, so many students and teachers are drawn to Hampton Park Terrace.
Harleston Village
Reputation: Diverse, lively, families, college students
Hotspots: Colonial Lake, Circa 1886 Restaurant, College of Charleston
Harleston Village is a lively downtown neighborhood full of students, professors, young professionals, and families who enjoy the convenient peninsula location and proximity to the College of Charleston.
Dining and shopping are within walking distance of the residential streets, and residents have easy access to public transportation. Summers are best spent along the water at Colonial Lake or the Ashley River.
I’On
Reputation: Close-knit, residential, families, professionals, empty nesters
Hotspots: Liberty Tap Room, I’On Community Garden
Located east of the Cooper River (and technically in Mount Pleasant) I’On is an excellent neighborhood for those who want to be close to the action of Charleston, but also appreciate a little peace and quiet.
Historic Charleston homes with updated amenities make up the majority of housing in this close-knit community. Residents are often found sitting and chatting on their front porch, hiking nature trails, or swimming in one of several nearby lakes.
Isle of Palms
Reputation: Affluent, empty nesters, professionals
Hotspots: Wild Dunes Resort, beaches, Sea Biscuit Café
The Isle of Palms is another neighborhood that isn’t technically in Charleston, but is occupied mostly by those who commute into the city daily for work. Like many of the Charleston metro area’s islands, life on Isle of Palms means living in a beautiful vacation destination year-round.
The Isle of Palms is an affluent community made up of year-round residents with beachfront homes. The area also draws tourists to its pristine beaches.
King Street Historic District
Reputation: Upscale shopping and dining, professionals, wealthy
Hotspots: Historic Charleston City Market, Shops at Charleston Place
Though it’s narrow and sandwiched between several peninsula neighborhoods, the King Street Historic District can’t be missed.
Upscale boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and bars line King Street, which also contains the Upper King Design District. Residents leave their cars at home (or ditch them all together) since the area is easily walkable, and parking comes at a high price.
Housing ranges from historic buildings with modern renovations to loft style condos perfectly suited for ambitious professionals.
Mazyck-Wraggborough
Reputation: Historic, good schools, families, professionals
Hotspots: Charleston Museum, Music Farm, Halls Chophouse
Home to the Charleston Museum, the Aiken-Rhett house, and within walking distance to several other museums, Mazyck-Wraggborough has plenty of arts and culture to offer.
The neighborhood’s stately historic homes, tree lined streets, and excellent schools are a draw for families, while the proximity to Upper King nightlife, shopping, and dining are a draw for young professionals.
North Central
Reputation: Up-and-coming, affordable, families, young professionals
Hotspots: Moe’s Crosstown Tavern, Hampton Park
North Central Charleston is full of potential, from the proximity to nearby up-and-coming neighborhoods, Hampton Park, and Upper King Street, to the fixer-upper homes at affordable prices.
It may not be the most exciting neighborhood in the city, but it just might be in another five to ten years as independent businesses and new residents keep moving into the neighborhood.
North Morrison Drive
Reputation: Hipsters, up-and-coming,
Hotspots: Tattooed Moose, Edmond’s Oast, Santi’s
Often called NoMo by residents, North Morrison Drive is a formerly industrial but quickly up-and-coming area for independent businesses. Once considered a fringe area of the peninsula, this hidden gem is now becoming Charleston’s worst kept secret.
The community in NoMo is close-knit and dedicated to supporting local Charleston businesses. Residents live in converted warehouses, which have also been repurposed for gallery and studio spaces, earning the area another nickname: the Creative Corridor.
Old Village
Reputation: Empty nesters, families, close-knit community
Hotspots: Pitt Street Pharmacy, Village Bakery, docks and waterfront
The Old Village in Mount Pleasant is full of beautiful historic homes, generations-old families, mature oak trees, and community spirit. It’s just far enough from the noise of downtown that families let their children play alone without worrying, but close enough for a quick commute into the city.
The area has a quaint, conservative small town feel with restaurants and recreation within easy walking distance.
Radcliffborough
Reputation: Established professionals, families, doctors
Hotspots: Persimmon Cafe, Upper King Design District, MUSC
Bordered by the Medical University of South Carolina, Radcliffeborough is a residential area populated by doctors and medical students living in relatively affordable condos.
Radcliffborough is close to all the action of Upper King Street, but the quiet residential streets are perfect for families, especially those who wish to send their daughters to the prestigious Ashley Hall private school.
South of Broad
Reputation: Wealthy, highly desirable
Hotspots: White Point Garden, Blind Tiger Pub
South of Broad is Charleston’s most exclusive and desirable neighborhood, right at the tip of the peninsula. The neighborhood is residential, with gorgeous antebellum mansions and quaint historic homes along the tree-lined streets.
Residents enjoy the proximity to commercial neighborhoods without any of the noise, and have access to the historic waterfront park, White Point Garden. Due to the high demand, housing prices in this neighborhood are steep.
Sullivan’s Island
Reputation: Laid-back, families, pet-friendly, unpretentious
Hotspots: Poe’s Tavern, Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse
If you want to be neighbors with part-time resident Stephen Colbert, then Sullivan’s Island might just be the right place for you.
This unpretentious island just outside of Charleston isn’t just the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Full-time residents form a close-knit community here too.
Sullivan’s Island is home to small cottages, new construction homes, and excellent public schools.
Wagener Terrace
Reputation: Families, young professionals, residential
Hotspots: Moe’s Tavern, Hampton Park
Wagener Terrace is close to the shopping and nightlife of downtown Charleston neighborhoods, but has a quiet, residential feel. Families and young professionals populate most of the area.
Housing options range from new construction homes to quaint mid-century houses, and are priced for both a middle class and wealthy budget.
West Ashley
Reputation: Family-friendly, diverse, affordable, green spaces
Hotspots: The Citadel Mall, Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ
Across the Ashley River sits the close-knit community of West Ashley. Mature oak trees canopy residential streets, and houses come in dozens of architecture styles and a range of prices.
If you break the neighborhood up further, the Avondale area of West Ashley is up-and-coming, Riverland Terrace is quiet and progressive, and Byrnes Down is diverse and eclectic, but there are dozens more subdivisions in this neighborhood.
Overall this neighborhood is bound together by family-friendliness, affordability, and gorgeous green spaces where neighbors spend beautiful Charleston days along the river or marshes.
West Side
Reputation: RiverDogs fans, families, young professionals
Hotspots: Joe Riley Baseball Stadium, Stoney Field, Dellz Uptown
This Charleston neighborhood is the perfect spot for RiverDogs fans who don’t want to worry about game day parking, as the Joe Riley Baseball Stadium is in Westside.
Due to the proximity to nearby peninsula nightlife and the affordability of condos and homes in the area (provided you don’t live right along the Ashley River), Westside attracts a diverse range of residents, from young professionals and students to families and empty nesters.
Know Charleston? Tell us your favorite neighborhood in the comments below!
