Cherokee County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cherokee County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 56,299. It is the 24th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cherokee County is 40.3 years. This is about average than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cherokee County is $49,047. This is 27% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.5%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $135,200. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Cherokee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cherokee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower 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 85.5%.