Beaufort County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Beaufort County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 192,123. It is the 10th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beaufort County is 47.2 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 11.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Beaufort County is $84,819. This is 27% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $407,600. Housing costs are 72% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Beaufort County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.3% vs 7.1%).

Education

44.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Beaufort County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.2%. Notably, 18.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.