Saluda County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Saluda County, South Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Saluda County, South Carolina has a population of 18,958, the 40th most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $52,957 and the median home value is $123,200. The poverty rate is 19.4%.

Saluda County Quick Facts

Population 18,958

Median Household Income $52,957

Median Home Value $123,200

Poverty Rate 19.4%

Unemployment Rate 2.4%

Median Age 43.0 years

Homeownership Rate 78.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.9%

High School Graduation 84.0%

Cities/Places 3

Population 18,958 40th of 46

Median Income $52,957 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 19.4%

Unemployment 2.4%

Median Household Income

Saluda

$52,957

$66,818

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Saluda

$123,200

$236,700

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.4%

$25K-$50K 27.6%

$50K-$100K 28.3%

$100K+ 22.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.1%

$10K-$15K

4.8%

$15K-$20K

4.7%

$20K-$25K

5.8%

$25K-$30K

4.5%

$30K-$35K

6.3%

$35K-$40K

2.9%

$40K-$45K

8.5%

$45K-$50K

5.5%

$50K-$60K

4.1%

$60K-$75K

12.1%

$75K-$100K

12.1%

$100K-$125K

7.4%

$125K-$150K

5.1%

$150K-$200K

6.3%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

2.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.0%|National: 5.2%

55.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.1%

Renter 21.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.9%

18-34

18.0%

35-54

24.8%

55-74

26.7%

75+

8.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 54 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Saluda County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Saluda	3,095	$40,567	41.4%	$81,500
Ridge Spring	848	$38,854	19.5%	$76,600
Ward	284	$55,625	35.2%	$115,600

Explore South Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

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. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

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. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $78,538. 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%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Saluda County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Saluda County, South Carolina?

Saluda County has a population of 18,958, making it the 40th most populous county in South Carolina.

What is the median income in Saluda County?

The median household income in Saluda County is $52,957 with a poverty rate of 19.4%.

How many cities are in Saluda County, South Carolina?

Saluda County contains 3 Census-designated places.