Folly Beach city, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Folly Beach city is a small community located in South Carolina. The total population is 958. It ranks as the 273rd most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Folly Beach city is 62.7 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 2.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.6% 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 Folly Beach city is $97,813. This is 46% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.8%. This is 38% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $951,200. Housing costs are 302% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 91.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Folly Beach city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.8% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.8% vs 62.2%).

Education

60.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Folly Beach city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 92% higher 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 96.4%. Notably, 24.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Folly Beach 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.