James Island town, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

James Island town is a small city located in South Carolina. The total population is 11,738. It ranks as the 54th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in James Island town is 41.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in James Island town is $100,176. This is 50% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.4%. This is 62% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $454,200. Housing costs are 92% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 85.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in James Island town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.2%. The Black or African American population (12.2%) is well below the state average of 25.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

48.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places James Island town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 53% 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 93.9%. Notably, 15.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for James Island town, 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.