Ruby, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ruby, South Carolina had a total population of 244, the 397th largest town in South Carolina, with a median household income of $75,313, which is 9% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
Ruby Quick Facts
How Ruby 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 | 244 | 244 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $49,167 | $75,313 | +53.2% |
| Median home value | $108,700 | $114,400 | +5.2% |
How Ruby 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
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+)
Ruby Rankings in South Carolina
Explore South Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Chesterfield County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheraw | 4,960 | $26,689 | 37.0% | $152,200 |
| Pageland | 2,489 | $42,679 | 20.0% | $186,600 |
| Chesterfield | 1,465 | $44,526 | 28.3% | $184,200 |
| McBee | 818 | $63,125 | 10.1% | $89,300 |
| Cash | 754 | $97,115 | 14.1% | $96,500 |
| Jefferson | 737 | $40,625 | 21.4% | $154,400 |
| Patrick | 331 | $34,773 | 30.5% | $51,900 |
| Mount Croghan | 170 | $68,594 | 15.9% | $116,700 |
Cities Similar to Ruby
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starr | 258 | $75,833 | $175,000 | 29.4% | 3.1% |
| Ward | 260 | N/A | $164,800 | 10.0% | 37.7% |
| Cokesbury | 267 | N/A | $75,200 | 3.4% | 0.0% |
| Reevesville | 271 | $77,250 | $165,000 | 43.4% | 7.4% |
| Waterloo | 212 | N/A | N/A | 21.9% | 37.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 244, Ruby'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
Ruby is a small community located in South Carolina, within Chesterfield County. The total population is 244. It ranks as the 397th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ruby is 46.7 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ruby is $75,313. This is 9% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $114,400. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Ruby is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 71.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Ruby has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.4%. The Black or African American population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 24.6%.
Education
19.9% 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 90.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ruby, 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 Ruby, South Carolina?
Ruby, South Carolina has a population of 244 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ruby, SC?
The median household income in Ruby is $75,313, which is 7% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ruby, SC?
The poverty rate in Ruby is 13.9%. This means approximately 34 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ruby, South Carolina?
Ruby's population is 86.9% White, 3.3% Black, 7.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ruby, SC?
The median home value in Ruby is $114,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Ruby, South Carolina?
19.9% of adults (25+) in Ruby hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.