Darlington County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Darlington County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 62,754. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Darlington County is 41.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Darlington County is $47,419. This is 29% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.3%. This is 43% 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 6.9%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $141,400. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 70.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Darlington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.9% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 86.5%.