North Charleston, South Carolina, is the closest major city to Naval Support Activity Charleston, under Joint Base Charleston. North Charleston has about 100,000 people. The next nearest major city is Charleston, with a population of about 125,000 people. These cities and other smaller communities contribute to a metropolitan population of about 665,000 people.

It is about 8 miles from downtown North Charleston to the joint base; this takes about 18 minutes to commute, but the city is spread out over a large area and travel times can vary significantly.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the area is an average of about $800 per month.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in North Charleston in the last three years was about $136,000, and $186,000 for South Carolina. The average price for a house in Charleston in the last three years was about $259,000.

Climate and Weather: The area has a humid subtropical climate, winter temperatures from the 50s to the high 30s and summer temperatures of the low 90s to the low 70s. The area has a fairly high amount of rain, including frequent summer rain showers and occasional thunderstorms. Summers are hot and humid, with several inches of rain, while winters short and mild with little if any snow. The area occasionally suffers tornadoes, and, rarely, a hurricane.

Short Description of the Area: The main city of Charleston is one of the oldest settlements of the United States, founded 1670, with a long history. It is the second largest city in South Carolina; the Charleston metropolitan covers three counties and has a population of about 665,000 people. The metro area is on the Carolina coast and is a major seaport with a large volume of container and bulk cargo flowing, and is a terminal for ships over the Panama Canal maximum size. The old city, and the surrounding area, has famous old and less old architectural styles, and is known for its manners and hospitality. North Charleston is much more recent, founded in 1972 in an area once dominated by plantations.

Transportation: The Charleston metro area is served by the CARTA transit system, mostly a bus network.