Oconee County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Oconee County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 79,566. It is the 18th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oconee 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 Oconee County is $60,193. This is 10% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $217,200. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.4% 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 Oconee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.7%. The Black or African American population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 25.1%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

28.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 87.1%.