Darlington County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Darlington County, South Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Darlington County, South Carolina has a population of 62,558, the 23rd most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $48,581 and the median home value is $158,200. The poverty rate is 21.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Darlington County Quick Facts

Population 62,558

Median Household Income $48,581

Median Home Value $158,200

Poverty Rate 21.1%

Unemployment Rate 6.7%

Median Age 41.3 years

Homeownership Rate 70.9%

Affordability Ratio 3.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.9%

High School Graduation 87.1%

Cities/Places 8

Population 62,558 23rd of 46

Median Income $48,581 30% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.1%

Unemployment 6.7%

How Darlington County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	62,754	62,558	-0.3%
Median household income	$47,419	$48,581	+2.5%
Median home value	$141,400	$158,200	+11.9%

Median Household Income

Darlington

$48,581

$69,324

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Darlington

$158,200

$259,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.9%

$25K-$50K 24.0%

$50K-$100K 27.3%

$100K+ 21.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.6%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

7.1%

$20K-$25K

5.6%

$25K-$30K

7.6%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

4.9%

$40K-$45K

3.2%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

9.3%

$75K-$100K

10.8%

$100K-$125K

5.6%

$125K-$150K

4.8%

$150K-$200K

5.3%

$200K+

6.1%

Employment

6.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

56.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.9%

Renter 29.1%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $896/mo 22.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.2%

18-34

21.2%

35-54

23.2%

55-74

25.8%

75+

7.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Darlington County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hartsville	7,419	$49,272	19.6%	$205,600
Darlington	6,120	$33,952	30.2%	$172,300
North Hartsville	3,304	$59,744	27.1%	$110,600
Lamar	1,196	$38,864	40.6%	$127,000
Dovesville	1,120	$31,918	52.9%	$96,600
Pine Ridge	637	$61,192	17.6%	$113,300
Society Hill	388	$32,656	19.3%	$92,800
Lydia	190	N/A	18.4%	N/A

Explore South Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Darlington County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 62,558. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Darlington County is 41.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Darlington County is $48,581. This is 30% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 50% 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 6.7%. This is 36% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $158,200. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Darlington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.6% vs 24.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 87.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Darlington County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Darlington County, South Carolina?

Darlington County has a population of 62,558, making it the 23rd most populous county in South Carolina.

What is the median income in Darlington County?

The median household income in Darlington County is $48,581 with a poverty rate of 21.1%.

How many cities are in Darlington County, South Carolina?

Darlington County contains 8 Census-designated places.