Clifton, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 792, Clifton'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

Clifton is a small community located in South Carolina, within Spartanburg County. The total population is 792. It ranks as the 294th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clifton is 32.2 years. This is 20% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 39.9% of the population under 18, Clifton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clifton is $51,364. This is 26% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 51.9%. This is 269% 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 7.0%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $105,200. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Clifton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 32.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 54% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Clifton was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 54.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clifton, 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.