Daniel Island is one of the more unique real estate products in the Charleston metro. It is a 4,000 acre master planned community in the Berkeley County portion of the City of Charleston, connected to the mainland by the Mark Clark Expressway. What that means practically is that Daniel Island lives like a small town on an island, with its own commercial center, its own schools, its own parks, and its own culture, while still being a 15 minute drive to downtown Charleston. Median home price in mid 2026 is around $925,000.
People who move to Daniel Island tend to fall in love with it fast. The walkability is real. The community identity is strong. The schools are highly rated. And it feels different from anywhere else in Charleston because it was designed as a walkable, golf cart friendly, master planned community from the ground up in the 1990s. It also comes with real trade offs, including HOA structure, one bridge in and out, and premium pricing.
Who Daniel Island works for
The strongest buyer profiles for Daniel Island are relocating families who want a walkable planned community with A rated schools, higher income professionals from the Northeast or Bay Area who value walkability and are okay with HOA structure, second home buyers who want a Charleston base with community amenities, and retirees who want an active social scene with tennis, pickleball, and the Daniel Island Club. Daniel Island works less well for buyers who dislike HOAs, need a downtown Charleston commute in under 15 minutes, or want a large rural lot.
Sub areas within Daniel Island
Main Daniel Island
The bulk of the island. 1990s through 2010s homes on quarter acre to third acre lots. Median $850,000. Walkable to the Daniel Island School campus, the commercial center on Seven Farms Drive, and multiple community pocket parks. This is where most Daniel Island families live.
Daniel Island Park
The luxury enclave on the eastern half of the island, distinguished by the Daniel Island Club golf course and larger lots. Median $2.4 million. Homes typically 3,800 to 5,500 square feet. Popular with higher net worth families and second home buyers. Waterfront and dock equipped homes available. This is Charleston metro’s newest premium waterfront residential product.
Codner’s Ferry Park and Ithecaw Creek
Newer sub sections with waterfront lots. Median $1.4 million. Popular with buyers who want water access without the Daniel Island Park price tag.
The Etiwan Park section
Smaller lots, townhomes, and condos near the community pool and tennis center. Median $650,000. The entry point for Daniel Island living.
Schools
Daniel Island falls in Berkeley County School District rather than Charleston County. The schools on and near the island are highly rated, which is one of the biggest draws.
Public schools on Daniel Island
- Daniel Island School (K through 8, on island, walkable for many families)
- Philip Simmons Elementary
- Philip Simmons Middle
- Philip Simmons High School (Berkeley County, newer campus)
Nearby private options
- Bishop England High School (Catholic, relocated from downtown Charleston to Daniel Island)
- Trident Academy in Mount Pleasant (learning differences)
- Porter Gaud, Ashley Hall, and Charleston Day are 25 to 35 minutes away in downtown Charleston
Healthcare and hospitals
Daniel Island is well positioned for healthcare access. Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital in Summerville handles emergency and hospital services, about 25 minutes away. MUSC downtown is 15 to 20 minutes across the Ravenel Bridge and Mark Clark Expressway. East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant sits about 15 minutes away.
On Daniel Island itself, MUSC has a health outpost for primary care and specialty appointments. Roper St. Francis has a Daniel Island primary care office. Urgent care is available at Nason Medical Center in Mount Pleasant (15 minutes) and MUSC Health Urgent Care in Belle Hall.
Lifestyle and amenities
The Daniel Island commercial center on Seven Farms Drive includes coffee shops, restaurants (Lewis Barbecue, Sermet’s, Vespa), grocery, dry cleaner, hardware, and services. Everything you need day to day is walkable or a two minute golf cart ride. The Daniel Island Club is a private golf and tennis facility with a strong social calendar. Credit One Stadium hosts the Charleston Open tennis tournament every spring.
Beach access is one of the trade offs. Sullivan’s Island is about 25 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic on the Mark Clark. Isle of Palms is 30 to 35 minutes. Downtown Charleston is 15 to 20 minutes. The Mark Clark Expressway is the single point of entry and exit, which does back up during rush hour and after events at Credit One Stadium.
The 2026 market at a glance
Price ranges by tier:
- Under $700K: townhomes, condos, smaller single family in Etiwan Park section
- $700K to $1.2M: main Daniel Island family homes, 3 to 4 bedroom typical
- $1.2M to $2M: Codner’s Ferry Park, Ithecaw Creek, larger main island homes
- $2M to $4M: Daniel Island Park mid range and golf course lots
- $4M and up: Daniel Island Park waterfront and deepwater dock properties
Why Daniel Island rewards a careful buyer
Daniel Island is easy to fall in love with on a Saturday morning visit. The trade offs (HOA structure, one bridge in and out, distance from beaches) are real and deserve a careful conversation before you write an offer. I show Daniel Island regularly and can help you understand what the community actually feels like at 8am on a school day, at 5pm on a Friday, and during a summer weekend.
Considering Daniel Island?
Let me spend 30 minutes with you on the phone or Zoom before you tour. We will cover school zones, HOA reality, sub section trade offs, and the Daniel Island Club membership question if relevant.
Schedule a call or reach me directly at (843) 530-7001 or michael.teibert@carolinaone.com.
Michael Teibert
Carolina One Real Estate
Charleston, SC