Saluda County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Saluda County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 18,958. It is the 40th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Saluda County is 43.0 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Saluda County is $52,957. This is 21% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.4%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $123,200. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Saluda County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Saluda County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.6% vs 7.1%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower 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 84.0%.