Daycare Cost in Charleston County, SC

Childcare in Charleston County, SC

Charleston County, home to the historic city of Charleston and the rapidly growing communities of Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, and Summerville-adjacent areas, has a population of 430,000. The county's economy is driven by Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly plant, the Port of Charleston, Joint Base Charleston (Air Force and Navy), Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and a massive tourism industry centered on historic downtown Charleston. Infant care averages around $10,920 per year, higher than most South Carolina counties and reflecting Charleston's rising cost of living. The county's military presence at Joint Base Charleston adds military family childcare needs to an already tight market.

Finding Care

Mount Pleasant and the Daniel Island area have the densest concentration of quality childcare centers, serving affluent families east of the Cooper River. Downtown Charleston and the West Ashley area have competitive markets with both center-based and faith-based programs. North Charleston, the county's most economically diverse area, has fewer quality-rated providers relative to its population. Military families at Joint Base Charleston can access on-base Child Development Centers through MilChildCare.com, though waitlists are common. South Carolina's ABC Quality system rates participating providers.

Local Resources

South Carolina's CCR&R network and DSS SC Voucher program serve Charleston County, providing referrals and subsidy assistance. Charleston County Head Start and Early Head Start, operated through the Charleston County School District and Trident Community Action, maintain sites across the metro. Charleston's First Steps local partnership funds quality improvement, family literacy, and childcare scholarship programs, and the Coastal Community Foundation supports early childhood initiatives through targeted grants.