Pickens, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Pickens, South Carolina had a total population of 3,155, the 143rd largest city in South Carolina, with a median household income of $55,000, which is 21% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.3%.
Pickens Quick Facts
How Pickens 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 | 3,386 | 3,155 | -6.8% |
| Median household income | $58,534 | $55,000 | -6.0% |
| Median home value | $196,400 | $204,100 | +3.9% |
How Pickens Compares
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 55 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Pickens Rankings in South Carolina
Explore South Carolina Rankings
Other Cities 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 |
| 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 |
Cities Similar to Pickens
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnettown | 3,135 | $50,347 | $189,800 | 19.4% | 19.6% |
| Inman | 3,166 | $63,599 | $192,500 | 23.4% | 15.4% |
| Clearwater | 3,319 | $51,731 | $158,100 | 10.8% | 17.3% |
| Arcadia | 3,426 | $55,218 | $116,800 | 18.6% | 21.3% |
| North Hartsville | 3,304 | $59,744 | $110,600 | 33.5% | 27.1% |
Population Overview
Pickens is a small community located in South Carolina, within Pickens County. The total population is 3,155. It ranks as the 143rd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pickens is 40.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Pickens is $55,000. This is 21% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.3%. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $204,100. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 68.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Pickens is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 10.3%. The Black or African American population (10.3%) is well below the state average of 24.6%.
Education
19.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 86.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Pickens, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all South Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Pickens, South Carolina?
Pickens, South Carolina has a population of 3,155 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Pickens, SC?
The median household income in Pickens is $55,000, which is 32% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Pickens, SC?
The poverty rate in Pickens is 16.7%. This means approximately 499 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Pickens, South Carolina?
Pickens's population is 71.7% White, 10.3% Black, 6.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Pickens, SC?
The median home value in Pickens is $204,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x.
How educated is Pickens, South Carolina?
19.8% of adults (25+) in Pickens hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.