Clemson, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Clemson is a small city located in South Carolina, within Anderson County. The total population is 18,072. It ranks as the 34th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clemson is 24.8 years. This is 38% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clemson is $49,520. This is 29% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 36.0%. This is 156% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $398,400. Housing costs are 54% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 34.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 52% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clemson is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.1%. The Black or African American population (8.1%) is well below the state average of 24.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.3% vs 1.8%).

Education

59.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clemson in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 85% higher 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 95.2%. Notably, 34.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clemson, 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.