Pickens County, South Carolina Demographics 2026
Pickens County, South Carolina has a population of 134,629, the 14th most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $61,064 and the median home value is $231,900. The poverty rate is 17.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Pickens County Quick Facts
How Pickens County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 132,604 | 134,629 | +1.5% |
| Median household income | $59,411 | $61,064 | +2.8% |
| Median home value | $216,000 | $231,900 | +7.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 55 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Pickens County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | 7,015 | N/A | 74.7% | N/A |
| Central | 5,320 | $60,258 | 30.3% | $256,600 |
| Liberty | 3,350 | $42,206 | 21.5% | $174,300 |
| Pickens | 3,155 | $55,000 | 16.7% | $204,100 |
| Arial | 1,919 | $54,286 | 7.9% | $181,300 |
| Six Mile | 931 | $96,250 | 5.7% | $338,700 |
| Cateechee | 850 | N/A | 1.8% | $171,900 |
| Norris | 784 | $50,750 | 15.0% | $183,100 |
| Dacusville | 198 | $51,000 | 5.1% | $293,500 |
Explore South Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Pickens County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 134,629. It is the 14th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pickens County is 36.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Pickens County is $61,064. This is 12% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $231,900. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 71.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Pickens County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population (5.7%) is well below the state average of 24.6%.
Education
28.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower 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 87.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Pickens County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Pickens County, South Carolina?
Pickens County has a population of 134,629, making it the 14th most populous county in South Carolina.
What is the median income in Pickens County?
The median household income in Pickens County is $61,064 with a poverty rate of 17.2%.
How many cities are in Pickens County, South Carolina?
Pickens County contains 9 Census-designated places.