Ridge Spring, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 842, Ridge Spring's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Ridge Spring is a small community located in South Carolina, within Saluda County. The total population is 842. It ranks as the 286th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ridge Spring is 43.1 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 11.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ridge Spring is $39,167. This is 44% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.8%. This is 76% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. 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 17.6%. This is 259% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $69,600. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Ridge Spring is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ridge Spring is Black or African American, making up 58.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 29.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (29.6%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (58.8% vs 24.6%).

Education

25.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ridge Spring, 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.