A Charleston Local Expert’s Guide To 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent

Hey, y’all, I'm Vicki, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Charleston, SC. I’m proud to say I’m a native Charlestonian who loves Low Country living and the laid-back lifestyle of living on the SC coast. I have seen it all over the past 40 years of living in Charleston and have had the opportunity to live in many areas, including West Ashley, North Charleston, Summerville, and Goose Creek.

Things sure have changed in Charleston over the years, but the old Southern charm still remains, the views are still to die for, and the friendly Southern hospitality still oozes from our cobblestone streets. Check out this guide to the most affordable neighborhoods in Charleston to see what area best fits your vibe and budget.

Old Windemere

Old Windermere, an older West Ashley community, is located just three minutes from downtown Charleston. This favorite neighborhood is within walking distance of nearby shopping and restaurants at South Windemere and Moreland Shopping Centers. Nature lovers will enjoy the easy access to the West Ashley Greenway, which meanders throughout the neighborhood. It's also close to some great schools, including St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science, a favorite of local families. The unique architectural styles are from the 40s, with a mix of Tudor, ranch, traditional, and colonial revival homes with gable roofs, brick veneer siding, and front porches for people watching. There are also a variety of duplexes, apartments, and new-construction homes in the area.

Hampton Park Terrace

Hampton Park Terrace is the perfect community for those who want to live downtown and walk to everything! Sports fans will enjoy the action at a Charleston RiverDogs baseball game, a Citadel football game, or even a game of hoops at the College of Charleston. Luckily, the baseball stadium, known as “The Joe”, has better parking than the old College Park Stadium where baseball fans would return to their cars to find broken windows and dents from home run balls! Foodies will love the local restaurants, including Harold’s Cabin, owned by celebrity and RiverDog owner Bill Murray. We love hanging out at Hampton Park, where my family has had many picnics over the years under the huge oak trees. It's a great place to play a game of touch football, soak in the Carolina sunshine, or take a walk around the mile-long park for amazing views of the Holy City.

James Island

James Island is a popular place to live near Charleston, and it’s no wonder why. For starters, it’s close to Folly Beach, a popular beach that’s known for surfing in the Charleston area. James Island has a laid back vibe with amazing marsh views, easy beach access, and tight-knit communities. James Island County Park is a huge attraction for locals and visitors. It’s fun to fish, hike, and kayak in this popular Charleston park. My family has been going to their Holiday Festival of Lights for over 30 years and still can’t wait to see it again! The downside of living on James Island is the traffic! The fast-growing island struggles with traffic flow during work rush hour and beach traffic on the weekends. It’s still a great place to live with a close commute to downtown, the hospitals, the College of Charleston, and fun on The Battery.

North Daniel Island

Perfectly situated between the Cooper and Wando Rivers, North Daniel Island is a popular place with young professionals, older couples, and families. The island is minutes from downtown and offers the perfect work/life balance because everything you need is merely steps away. Choose from houses, condos, and apartments with a cool island vibe and Low Country architectural features. We love the access to amazing schools, tennis and golf courses, and a variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and grocery stores, too. We also love being able to live and work in the community, and the Credit One Stadium, which is a great place to see concerts, tennis, and other fun events! I’ve spent many summers with friends at Credit One seeing great shows like Jimmy Buffett, Zac Brown Band, and Kenny Chesney that I’ll always cherish!

North Charleston

I lived in North Charleston when I was a teen in the 80’s, and my Dad was in charge of the flightline at the local Air Force Base. Back then, North Charleston was mainly an industrial city with the paper mill, Naval Shipyard, and Air Force Base. Today it is a thriving community with options for housing including established neighborhoods, new homes, and apartments. It’s a mecca of entertainment with the North Charleston Coliseum’s events and amazing restaurants like LoLA at Park Circle and Roberts Famous Bar B Que on Ashley Phosphate Rd. There are even several colleges in North Chucktown including Charleston Southern University and Trident Technical College. Its convenient location just nine miles from downtown Charleston and unique opportunities for a night on the town make it a popular choice for those looking for more affordable housing options with plenty of work and entertainment opportunities nearby.

Byrnes Downs

Located near the world-famous Coburg Dairy cow off Highway 17, the streets of Byrnes Downs are named for SC leaders and the quiet community is just a hop, skip, and a jump from James Island and downtown Charleston. The mid-century suburban neighborhood is a popular choice with young professionals who commute to the city for work as well as older folks who have been in the area for years. The tree-lined streets are located near the hip Avondale area where you can walk to Pearlz Oyster Bar and Triangle Char & Bar for happy hour or dinner. My best friend’s grandmother lived in Byrnes Downs and I have fond memories of visiting her house on Sundays when she cooked a huge Southern dinner with fried chicken, mac and cheese, and all the fixin’s! I think about her every time I pass the old house on my way downtown!

Stiles Point

Conveniently located near downtown Charleston and just a 10-minute cruise out to Folly Beach, Stiles Point is a good choice for families looking for the best public schools in Charleston. It’s also close to the (expensive) private schools of Porter Gaud and Ashley Hall, where some of my friends went whose dads were lawyers and doctors. Housing options are mostly 1970 to 1990 built homes with smaller lots, but there are a few new builds tucked here and there. There are lots of places to wine and dine in Stiles Point including Aji Asian Bistro and Coastal Crust, and Harris Teeter is close by for grocery shopping. Locals enjoy movies at the Terrace Theater, a variety of Spanish moss-covered parks, and the pool at Ft. Johnson Estates for fun in Stiles Point.

West Ashley

Probably my favorite part of the Charleston area, West Ashley is where I grew up, in a neighborhood off of Highway 17 with a dock on the Intracoastal Waterway. Located just over the Ashley River Bridge from downtown Charleston, West Ashley is situated along the many waterways of the area, so there are a variety of waterfront or water view homes and apartments with impressive views. West Ashley has distinct areas with unique vibes that range from old, traditional Southern to urban hipster that can be seen in the homes, restaurants, and local shopping options. Its convenient location, which is perfectly situated between James Island, downtown Charleston, Ravenel, and North Charleston, makes it a great place to live with a short commute to work or school.

South Windemere

I used to ride my bike from our home on the intracoastal waterway to the South Windemere area when I attended C.E. Williams Middle school in Charleston. I love riding on the sidewalks past all the cool old homes to my favorite stores at South Windemere Shopping Center. The older cottages and new two-story brick homes are designed with a mid-1900s feel. They line the shaded streets, are well maintained…and expensive! The area is ideally located between West Ashley and James Island and the traffic can be a bit hectic, but the quiet community and distance to downtown make it a popular choice when choosing an apartment or home in the Charleston, SC area.

Avondale

This thriving urban community in Charleston is just over the bridge from downtown and is the perfect location that is near the city but tucked away from the crazy tourist traffic. Dubbed as the downtown of West Ashley, Avondale offers a charming, upscale, urban vibe with restaurants, bars, and shopping. Many of the homes are older brick, and from the 1950s housing boom, but there are newer and renovated homes as well. Avondale is popular with young professionals, families, grad students, and MUSC staff who enjoy the quaint locally owned boutiques, restaurants, and shops in the area as well as proximity to downtown Charleston.