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Charleston, South Carolina sits on a narrow peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, about 100 miles north of Savannah. The city hosts the College of Charleston, The Citadel, and the Medical University of South Carolina. King Street is the main commercial corridor, lined with restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The Charleston peninsula is known for antebellum architecture, gas-lit streets in the French Quarter, and the City Market near Waterfront Park. Summers are hot and humid, with a hurricane season that shapes local routines, while mild winters make year-round outdoor activity practical. Rents on the peninsula rank among the highest in South Carolina due to limited housing stock and strong tourism demand.
This walkable neighborhood just west of the CofC campus is the top choice for students, with a mix of historic homes converted to rental apartments and easy access to King Street shops and restaurants. It is one of the few downtown neighborhoods where students make up a significant share of renters.
Bordering Hampton Park and the Charleston peninsula's northern end, Wagener Terrace attracts students and young professionals who want a residential neighborhood feel without being directly on the tourist corridor. Rents run slightly lower than blocks closer to campus, and the Hampton Park greenspace is a draw for outdoor recreation.
Situated between Broad Street and Calhoun Street on the southern part of the peninsula, Harleston Village is one of Charleston's quieter historic neighborhoods. Students who prefer walkable access to CofC's southern academic buildings and the campus library find it convenient, though rental inventory is limited and units here lease quickly each year.
The blocks north of Calhoun Street between King Street and the Septima P. Clark Parkway offer a range of apartment types at prices below the Cannonborough-Elliotborough premium. This area is still within easy walking or biking distance of the main CofC quad and serves students who want to be on the peninsula without paying top-dollar rents.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Charleston.
Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) operates bus routes across the peninsula and into North Charleston, West Ashley, and Mount Pleasant. The free DASH trolley runs along Meeting Street and King Street through the downtown core, making it useful for students living near the College of Charleston. Service frequency drops significantly in the evenings and on weekends, so most students who live beyond the immediate downtown area rely on CARTA primarily for weekday trips.
Downtown Charleston is one of the most walkable cities in the South, with the peninsula's grid layout keeping most student destinations within a 15-20 minute walk. The city has expanded its protected bike lane network along Cannon Street and Meeting Street in recent years. Hubway-affiliated Blue Bikes Charleston stations are scattered through the peninsula, offering affordable short-term rentals, though cobblestone streets in some historic blocks require slower riding.
Parking on the Charleston peninsula is limited and expensive, with metered street parking and commercial garages concentrated near King Street and the waterfront. Students living in Cannonborough-Elliotborough or Wagener Terrace face a real challenge finding affordable monthly parking. Many buildings on the peninsula do not include dedicated parking, so students with cars often end up paying for a separate monthly spot or parking in residential zones that require permits.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rents on the Charleston peninsula run from roughly $1,200 for a shared room to $2,000 or more for a one-bedroom apartment. Prices drop somewhat in North Charleston and West Ashley, where one-bedrooms can be found from $1,100 to $1,500. The peninsula market is expensive by South Carolina standards due to tourism demand and tight housing supply.