Assisted Living Facilities in Charleston, South Carolina

CaringScore for Charleston, SC

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Charleston was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose assisted living facilities in Charleston.

CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 6.4, Charleston rates above average for those seeking assisted living facilities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Charleston. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Charleston, SC

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Charleston, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for assisted living facilities. The HealthScore for Charleston is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 8.7, Charleston rates above average for those seeking assisted living facilities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking assisted living facilities. At 485.5 physicians per capita, Charleston scores 120.2 percent better than the national average. Charleston scores 184.6 percent better than the national average in geriatricians per capita, with 3.7, and scores 141.5 percent better than the national average in specialists per capita, with 47.1. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Charleston is 77 years -- 1.2 percent lower than most of the country. Air quality in Charleston -- one factor in gauging the healthfulness of a region -- is 54.2 percent below average, and water quality -- another key measure of Charleston's environmental health -- trails the national average by 9.1 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Charleston, SC	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	485.5	220.5
Geriatricians	3.7	1.3
Cardiologists	19.5	7.7
Oncologists	10.2	3.5
Orthopedists	13.8	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Charleston, SC

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Charleston, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for assisted living facilities. The CostScore for Charleston is based on data such as the average monthly cost of assisted living facilities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 4.8, Charleston is on par with the national average for assisted living facilities.

The average monthly cost for assisted living facilities in Charleston is $3,275 , which is generally on par with the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Charleston indexes at 11.0 percent higher than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 3.0 percent more expensive than the national average, and the cost of housing is 31.0 percent more expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Charleston, SC
Aggregate Index	111
Healthcare Index	103
Housing Index	131
Food Index	109
Utilities Index	102
Transportation Index	99

Assisted Living Facilities Avg Monthly Cost (US$)

LivabilityScore for Charleston, SC

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Charleston. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for assisted living facilities. The LivabilityScore for Charleston is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 4.8, Charleston is on par with the national average for assisted living facilities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for assisted living facilities. The sun shines an average of 209 days each year in Charleston, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 42°F in January, winters tend to be milder in Charleston than in other parts of the country, and summers are often hotter than other places, averaging 88°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Charleston is 75.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 25.0 percent higher than average. At $46,366 per year, the population of Charleston earns a lower than average median household income. Charleston has an unemployment rate of 7.10 percent, roughly 22.0 percent lower than the national average. And about 14.54 percent of the population in Charleston is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which exceeds the national average by 10.5 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Charleston	Nat'l Avg
Parks	1	136.1
Libraries	4.9	18.8
Places of Worship	85.8	220.5
Public Transit	113.7	110.4
Grocery Stores	191.8	97.7
Pharmacies	28.8	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65