We always think Charleston is the best, so when U.S. News and World Report ranked the Holy City No. 322 on its “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026" list, we were scratching our heads.

Let’s put this into perspective: The study ranked 850+ cities, meaning Charleston is in the top 40%. It also measured many factors, so to better understand the placement, we looked at the areas where Charleston excelled, and where there’s room for improvement.

Charleston's high marks

Compared to the rest of the nation, Charleston's job market was a highlight. The median household income was $90,050 — more than $10,000 higher than the national average. The city also had a below-average unemployment rate, thanks to booming industries like tourism, technology, and health care.

If you're looking for love, Charleston is a great spot to be. Only 42% of residents are married, so there are plenty of singles around town. Plus, the city received praise for its food, entertainment, and beach access, meaning there are plenty of places to go on dates.

And you can't forget about the weather. This varies by season, but the city received praise for its moderate and comfortable falls + winters.

What held Charleston back?

If you live in CHS, it should come as no surprise that it can get pretty pricey. In 2024, the city's average housing cost was $463,644, which is over $90,000 above the national average.

The city also has a dependency on cars, with ~92% of residents relying on their vehicles as their primary mode of transportation. This is higher than the national average, and few Charlestonians are using public transit. At least the traffic isn't too bad — Charleston's average daily commute is 1.5 minutes below the US average.

The Holy City was also noted for having hot summers with high humidity, and locals need to be prepared for the possibility of hurricanes and tropical storms.

More placements

While Charleston's ranking is lower than we would have anticipated, the city ranked as the No. 4 best place to live in South Carolina. The three cities that ranked higher were Mount Pleasant, Greenville, and Florence.

If you plan on staying in Charleston for a while, there's probably a good reason. U.S. News and World Report also released its "Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2025-2026" list, and CHS placed No. 13. This study used a slightly different methodology, with a greater emphasis on the city's happiness score and opportunities for retirees; we can see why people want to spend their later years in Charleston.