Pickens city, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Pickens city is a small community located in South Carolina. The total population is 3,386. It ranks as the 134th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pickens city is 38.4 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pickens city is $58,534. This is 12% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $196,400. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Pickens city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 72.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.4%.

Education

14.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 85.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pickens 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.