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South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, South Carolina has a total population of 5,212,774, with a median household income of $66,818, which is 15% lower the national average. The poverty rate is 14.2%.

South Carolina Quick Facts

Population 5,212,774
Median Household Income $66,818
Median Home Value $236,700
Poverty Rate 14.2%
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
Median Age 40.1 years
Homeownership Rate 71.4%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 31.5%
High School Graduation 89.6%
Counties 46
Cities/Places 475
Population 5,212,774
Median Income $66,818 15% lower national
Poverty Rate 14.2%
Unemployment 5.0%

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.0% | National: 5.2%
60.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.4%
Renter 28.6%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 54 | National average: 60

Education

Largest Cities in South Carolina

#CityPopulationMedian IncomePoverty
1Charleston city152,014$90,03812.0%
2Columbia city138,019$55,65323.3%
3North Charleston city117,460$62,78915.5%
4Mount Pleasant town92,662$121,3645.8%
5Rock Hill city74,769$64,77013.3%
6Greenville city71,755$68,46014.1%
7Summerville town51,262$78,62110.3%
8Goose Creek city46,964$87,4376.6%
9Sumter city43,065$53,07115.8%
10Florence city40,205$56,43318.1%

Richest Cities in South Carolina

#CityMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+
1Kiawah Island town$236,607$1,723,20086.5%
2Sullivan's Island town$179,614$2,000,00187.2%
3Isle of Palms city$148,029$1,192,20069.7%
4Baxter Village CDP$146,440$547,30071.1%
5Tega Cay city$141,037$494,50065.7%
6Five Forks CDP$140,668$424,60064.7%
7Pimlico CDP$138,833$428,20017.0%
8Riverview CDP$131,158$484,80030.6%
9Fort Mill town$127,537$457,00058.1%
10Seabrook Island town$124,519$899,60082.1%

Most Affordable Cities in South Carolina

By home-value-to-income ratio (lower = more affordable). Min. population 1,000.

#CityRatioHome ValueIncome
1Edisto CDP1.0x$46,200$46,644
2Wedgefield CDP1.2x$50,500$41,662
3Fairfax town1.3x$54,400$41,328
4McColl town1.4x$47,100$33,925
5Langley CDP1.5x$74,000$50,750
6McBee town1.5x$89,900$59,500
7Hopkins CDP1.6x$77,300$49,464
8Gloverville CDP1.6x$81,400$51,691
9Drayton CDP1.6x$82,500$51,650
10Whitmire town1.6x$51,900$32,188

Explore South Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

All Counties in South Carolina (46)

46 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Greenville County537,575$74,62411.0%$273,900
Richland County418,725$61,69916.9%$224,200
Charleston County414,711$84,32011.6%$450,800
Horry County368,937$64,62312.8%$260,500
Spartanburg County338,096$64,19514.5%$216,000
Lexington County300,370$75,01411.4%$217,700
York County288,559$83,0608.9%$322,700
Berkeley County238,723$82,32710.3%$280,300
Anderson County207,218$64,68314.4%$212,500
Beaufort County192,123$84,81910.5%$407,600
Aiken County171,949$67,94013.9%$199,500
Dorchester County164,322$76,89611.5%$294,400
Florence County136,921$56,65018.3%$165,500
Pickens County132,604$59,41117.2%$216,000
Sumter County104,853$55,99016.4%$159,500
Lancaster County100,905$74,75112.3%$298,100
Orangeburg County83,531$43,21423.9%$109,700
Oconee County79,566$60,19316.4%$217,200
Greenwood County69,329$50,63517.1%$166,400
Laurens County67,904$55,51717.6%$153,500
Kershaw County66,924$64,34314.1%$191,900
Georgetown County64,200$66,73414.4%$262,300
Darlington County62,754$47,41920.3%$141,400
Cherokee County56,299$49,04718.5%$135,200
Chesterfield County43,575$47,62020.2%$101,400
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All Cities & Places in South Carolina (475)

475 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Charleston city152,014$90,03812.0%$469,100
Columbia city138,019$55,65323.3%$243,500
North Charleston city117,460$62,78915.5%$267,700
Mount Pleasant town92,662$121,3645.8%$667,100
Rock Hill city74,769$64,77013.3%$267,400
Greenville city71,755$68,46014.1%$453,300
Summerville town51,262$78,62110.3%$295,700
Goose Creek city46,964$87,4376.6%$279,500
Sumter city43,065$53,07115.8%$188,400
Florence city40,205$56,43318.1%$189,800
Greer city39,191$80,0309.9%$264,300
Spartanburg city38,578$51,19324.1%$185,300
Hilton Head Island town37,805$96,7158.4%$652,100
Myrtle Beach city37,214$53,67916.9%$347,700
Aiken city32,334$69,83716.3%$261,800
Bluffton town31,323$105,4634.8%$444,500
Anderson city29,563$44,32122.3%$199,600
Fort Mill town28,281$127,5373.7%$457,000
Carolina Forest CDP26,373$70,64714.0%$298,700
Conway city26,082$54,84120.3%$236,300
Mauldin city25,985$81,0278.3%$242,100
Simpsonville city25,125$79,2336.1%$267,500
North Augusta city24,928$90,1326.9%$220,500
Socastee CDP24,629$59,82613.1%$218,200
Lexington town24,132$83,2637.4%$271,200
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Download South Carolina Data

Free CSV downloads of South Carolina demographic data — no account or payment required.

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Cities Data (CSV) All cities: population, income, housing, race, education
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Counties Data (CSV) All counties: population, income, housing, race, education

Population Overview

South Carolina has a total population of 5,212,774, making it a mid-sized state in the nation. The median age is 40.1 years, 4% higher the national median of 38.7 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Carolina is 40.1 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818. This is 15% lower than the state median of $78,538. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $236,700. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $303,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 65.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Carolina is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (25.1% vs 12.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 19.0%. The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

31.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 35.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of South Carolina?

South Carolina has a total population of 5,212,774 according to the U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median income in South Carolina?

The median household income in South Carolina is $66,818, which is 15% lower the national median of $78,538.

How many cities are in South Carolina?

South Carolina has 475 Census-designated places (cities, towns, and CDPs) and 46 counties.

What is the poverty rate in South Carolina?

The poverty rate in South Carolina is 14.2%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

What is the largest city in South Carolina?

The largest city in South Carolina is Charleston city with a population of 152,014.