Side by side
| West Ashley (29407) | West Ashley (29414) | James Island | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes sold, last 12 months | 492 | 819 | 705 |
| Median sale price (12-month) | $583,000 | $482,500 | $637,500 |
| Median sale price, latest month | $540,000 | $470,000 | $755,000 |
| Homes for sale, latest month | 128 | 207 | 172 |
| Months of supply | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| Median days on market | 41 | 41 | 40 |
| Sold vs. original list price | 94.8% | 97.2% | 95.8% |
Market rows: CHS Regional MLS market statistics, residential, November 2025 to October 2026. The 12-month median is the median of the monthly medians; months of supply is average homes for sale divided by average monthly sales. Drive times and the other facts below come from my West Ashley and James Island guides.
Homes and prices
West Ashley's close-in neighborhoods are old by suburban standards: the City's Avondale study dates Byrnes Downs to 1942 and Westwood to 1955, with most of the big growth farther out in the 1970s and 1980s. James Island has 1940s homes in places like Riverland Terrace, established neighborhoods around the Country Club of Charleston, and newer homes off Maybank Highway. 29407 is the closer-in, older part of West Ashley; 29414 runs out toward Bees Ferry Road and Long Savannah.
Getting around
From Sam Rittenberg at Ashley River Road it's about 10 minutes to downtown and 15 to the airport with no traffic; from Folly Road at Camp Road it's about 10 to downtown, 25 to the airport and 10 to the Folly Beach pier. West Ashley's pain points are US 17, Sam Rittenberg and years of I-526 work ahead; James Island's is Folly Road, especially on summer weekends.
Flooding
West Ashley's problems are mostly rain and drainage, especially in the Church Creek basin, which includes Shadowmoss and flooded in Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. James Island is a sea island ringed by tidal creeks and marsh, so low lots face tidal and surge risk. In both, it's parcel by parcel: run the address through my flood zone lookup and ask the seller about past water.
Governments and taxes
West Ashley is mostly City of Charleston with a few county pockets. James Island is split among the Town of James Island, the City of Charleston and unincorporated Charleston County, and the Town credits its own millage back, so town owners pay no net town tax. Short-term rental rules also differ by jurisdiction; see my STR rules page.
Where I land
If the beach and the marsh are why you're here, I'd lean James Island. If you want more choices under a given budget, older homes with character close to downtown, or an easy airport run, I'd start in West Ashley. In both, I look at elevation before anything else.
Common questions
Is James Island more expensive than West Ashley?
Usually. Compare the 12-month medians in the table above, which refresh monthly from the MLS. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood in both.
Which is closer to downtown, West Ashley or James Island?
About the same: roughly 10 minutes to Marion Square with no traffic from the middle of each, via the US 17 bridges from West Ashley or the James Island Connector.
Is West Ashley in the City of Charleston?
Mostly, yes, with a few unincorporated county pockets. James Island is split among three governments. Check the tax district on the county record for any address.
Keep reading
Sources
- City of Charleston: Avondale Area Character Appraisal (2021)
- City of Charleston: Church Creek Drainage Basin
- NWS Charleston: Tropical Storm Debby impact narratives (2024)
- I-526 Lowcountry Corridor
- Town of James Island: Town Property Tax
- Town of James Island: Island-Wide Drainage Study
- Live 5: Rethink Folly Road items removed after Town opts out (July 2026)
- South Carolina Highway 30 (James Island Connector)
- OSRM / OpenStreetMap routing (no-traffic drive times)
Published November 8, 2026, last checked November 8, 2026. Fees, prices and road projects change, so confirm the current numbers for any specific home before you buy. More answers