Richland County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Richland County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 418,725. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Richland County is 34.2 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Richland County is $61,699. This is 8% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 33% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $224,200. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Richland County is Black or African American, making up 46.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 39.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (46.9% vs 25.1%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.9% vs 1.7%).

Education

41.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Richland County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 31% higher 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 92.0%. Notably, 17.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.