Carlisle, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 494, Carlisle's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Carlisle is a small community located in South Carolina, within Union County. The total population is 494. It ranks as the 335th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carlisle is 40.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carlisle is $61,029. This is 12% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 70% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $66,300. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Carlisle is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carlisle has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 8.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (8.7%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (88.9% vs 24.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

10.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 76.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Carlisle, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.