Chester County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Chester County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 32,177. It is the 28th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chester County is 42.2 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chester County is $51,216. This is 23% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $143,800. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Chester County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 35.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

13.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 84.4%.