Fairfax, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fairfax is a small community located in South Carolina, within Allendale County. The total population is 1,935. It ranks as the 203rd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fairfax is 50.3 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 14.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fairfax is $40,649. This is 41% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.8%. This is 90% 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 6.1%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $63,000. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Fairfax is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 50.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fairfax is Black or African American, making up 76.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 21.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (21.1%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (76.0% vs 24.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

9.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 79.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fairfax, 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.