Fairfield County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fairfield County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 20,741. It is the 38th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fairfield County is 46.7 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fairfield County is $46,972. This is 30% 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 16.9%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $129,100. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Fairfield County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fairfield County is Black or African American, making up 55.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 38.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.1% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

15.3% 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 84.6%.