Dale, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 411, Dale'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

Dale is a small community located in South Carolina, within Beaufort County. The total population is 411. It ranks as the 352nd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dale is 72.4 years. This is 80% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 42.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 55.7%. This is 296% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Dale, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dale has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 87.4% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 9.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (9.7%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (87.4% vs 24.6%).

Education

12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% 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 89.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dale, 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.