Darlington city, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Darlington city is a small city located in South Carolina. The total population is 6,128. It ranks as the 93rd most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Darlington city is 46.3 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 12.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Darlington city is $31,240. This is 53% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 60% lower. The poverty rate stands at 33.9%. This is 139% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. 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 10.0%. This is 103% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $163,000. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Darlington city is Black or African American, making up 59.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (30.8%) is well below the state average of 62.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (59.4% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 7.1%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 81.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Darlington city, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.