Charleston, SC | Awards and Rankings

With our gorgeous beaches, friendly faces, world class restaurants and architecture economic growth and job sustainability, it is no surprise that we are winning so many awards! Charleston, SC was even awarded the tenth top city in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine for the first time this year! Some of our esteemed awards include:
#10 Top City in the World by Travel & Leisure Magazine
2018
From Travel & Leisure: The jewel of the South Carolina coast has crowned our list of favorite American cities since 2013. But that doesn’t mean the Lowcountry destination isn’t evolving. Thanks to an influx of business, Charleston is bustling with revitalized energy. A new generation of restaurateurs, helmed by Sean Brock of Husk and McCrady’s, is turning the city into an international food destination. - Peter Terzian
#1 Top City in the US by Travel & Leisure Magazine
2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
From Travel & Leisure: The jewel of the South Carolina coast has crowned our list of favorite American cities since 2013. But that doesn’t mean the Lowcountry destination isn’t evolving. Thanks to an influx of business, Charleston is bustling with revitalized energy. A new generation of restaurateurs, helmed by Sean Brock of Husk and McCrady’s, is turning the city into an international food destination. - Peter Terzian
#1 Small US City by Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards
2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2013, 2012
From Conde Nast Traveler: Folks think of Charleston as a small town, and that’s true if you’re just looking at the numbers. But when you consider history, culture, food, and charm, this city punches like a giant—no wonder it's topped our list of best small cities for eight years running. You’ve heard of the food scene, no doubt—the city’s biggest draw these days, and one that routinely exceeds the hype. Not only can you get world-class barbecue, seafood, and regional Lowcountry classics; you can get them done extraordinarily well, in traditional and modern styles. And in extraordinary settings. There's a gorgeous mansion! And another one! It's all juxtaposed with contemporary art and snappy street fashion. The city's roots may be its rich Southern history, but Charleston stands fully in the now. - Caitlin Morton & Katherine Lagrave
#1 South's Best Cities List by Southern Living Magazine
2019
From Southern Living: Even people who have never set foot in this dreamy Lowcountry city have romantic notions about it. They might not know why they think Charleston is wonderful—they just know they want to go there someday. From its historic rowhouses and hidden gardens to more good food than any single city should be allowed, Charleston lives up to the hype. - Valerie Fraser Luesse
#1 South's Best Food City by Southern Living Magazine
2019
From Southern Living: A city that will open its award-cradling arms to anyone who’s hungry and looking for a little hospitality, Charleston's culinary riches are interwined with its history. This food-rich city is filled with history, not to mention the best seafood around. - Betsy Cribb
#4 America's Biggest Boomtowns' list by MagnifyMoney
2018
From MagnifyMoney: Nipping at Raleigh’s heels, the historical coastal city saw its population jump by 11% between 2011 and 2016. The increase in housing units hasn’t kept up, at just over 6%, giving Charleston the fifth-highest Population & Housing score (66.9). The Business Growth score is the fourth highest on our list, at 71.7, due to a 14% increase in business establishments and 17% increase in paid employees (the fifth and 18th highest gains on our list, respectively). Charleston shines even more in Workforce & Earnings category, with a score of 60.6, the third highest on our list. The healthy 22% drop in unemployment and an 11% increase in the workforce (closely matching the overall population increase) are matched by the seventh-highest median wage increase of over 9%. - Kali McFadden
#6 Most Fun Places to Live by US News
2018
From US News: Metro population: 728,271 | Median Home Price: $232,983 | Median Annual Salary: $44,500 | Parks Ranking: 33 | Restaurants Ranking: 25 | Shopping Ranking: 3 | This coastal South Carolina city receives its highest score for shopping. With a metro population of slightly more than 700,000, the Charleston area boasts 129 shopping venues, with warm, sunny weather to encourage an outdoor scroll from shop to shop. Charleston also ranks No. 5 for the many concert venues in the area, lending to its overall No. 6 ranking in Most Fun Places to Live. - Devon Thorsby
#6 Top US Metros for Millenials by Apartment List
2017
From Apartment List: Job score: 66 | Median income: $34,970 | Affordability score: 34 | Median rent: $1,134 | Livability score: 96 - Sydney Bennet
#16 Best-Performing Cities by Milken Institute
2018
From Milken Institute: The 2018 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. In most years, these give a good indication of the underlying structural performance of regional economics. - Jackson, Lee, Lin & Ratnatunga
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