Skip to main content

Forest Acres, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest Acres, South Carolina had a total population of 10,530, the 62nd largest city in South Carolina, with a median household income of $78,306, which is 13% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.2%.

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

Key Takeaways

Forest Acres Quick Facts

Population 10,530
Median Household Income $78,306
Median Home Value $279,300
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Unemployment Rate 4.1%
Median Age 41.5 years
Homeownership Rate 77.5%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 62.0%
High School Graduation Rate 95.9%
Diversity Index 36/100
Population 10,530 62nd of 474
Median Income $78,306 top 20%
Poverty Rate 8.2% 34% lower than national
Median Home Value $279,300 top 20%

How Forest Acres Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population10,49110,530+0.4%
Median household income$76,417$78,306+2.5%
Median home value$260,500$279,300+7.2%

How Forest Acres Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.1%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 28.3%
$100K+ 40.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
2.3%
$15K-$20K
2.1%
$20K-$25K
1.7%
$25K-$30K
4.4%
$30K-$35K
6.3%
$35K-$40K
2.0%
$40K-$45K
2.6%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
4.7%
$60K-$75K
12.9%
$75K-$100K
10.7%
$100K-$125K
11.7%
$125K-$150K
6.8%
$150K-$200K
9.4%
$200K+
12.8%

Employment

4.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
65.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.5%
Renter 22.5%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,263/mo 19.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

36out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Forest Acres Rankings in South Carolina

#62 Population of 474
#85 Median Income of 417
#20 Education of 473
#78 Home Value of 414

Other Cities in Richland County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Columbia 139,643 $55,529 24.0% $264,300
St. Andrews 19,868 $46,511 25.4% $161,300
Dentsville 15,209 $45,473 15.7% $163,700
Cayce 13,741 $62,045 13.7% $166,800
Irmo 11,813 $80,489 9.2% $203,400
Woodfield 9,465 $45,526 19.8% $150,800
Lake Murray of Richland 7,023 $119,107 2.0% $422,100
Blythewood 5,731 $94,167 4.8% $384,600
Capitol View 4,374 $46,645 10.6% $187,600
Arthurtown 3,272 $21,046 63.2% $120,100

Cities Similar to Forest Acres

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Hardeeville10,871$78,365$488,90042.6%11.8%
Murrells Inlet10,044$77,438$366,00042.1%7.3%
Powdersville10,771$84,910$334,90036.5%9.3%
Irmo11,813$80,489$203,40039.2%9.2%
Lugoff9,786$69,485$223,90029.7%8.1%

Population Overview

Forest Acres is a small city located in South Carolina, within Richland County. The total population is 10,530. It ranks as the 62nd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forest Acres is 41.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 11.7% 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 Forest Acres is $78,306. This is 13% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 42% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $279,300. Housing costs are 8% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Forest Acres is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

62.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Forest Acres in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 93% higher 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 95.9%. Notably, 26.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Forest Acres, 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.

Free data download: Get all South Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Forest Acres, South Carolina?

Forest Acres, South Carolina has a population of 10,530 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Forest Acres, SC?

The median household income in Forest Acres is $78,306, which is 3% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Forest Acres, SC?

The poverty rate in Forest Acres is 8.2%. This means approximately 857 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Forest Acres, South Carolina?

Forest Acres's population is 78.8% White, 12.8% Black, 1.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in Forest Acres, SC?

The median home value in Forest Acres is $279,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x.

How educated is Forest Acres, South Carolina?

62.0% of adults (25+) in Forest Acres hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 26.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.