Orangeburg County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Orangeburg County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 83,531. It is the 17th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Orangeburg County is 40.8 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Orangeburg County is $43,214. This is 35% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 45% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 68% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.3%. This is 89% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $109,700. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Orangeburg County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Orangeburg County is Black or African American, making up 61.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (61.5% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 83.3%.