Sheldon, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 610, Sheldon'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

Sheldon is a small community located in South Carolina, within Beaufort County. The total population is 610. It ranks as the 325th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sheldon is 27.0 years. This is 33% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 2.3%. This is 84% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Sheldon, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $45,000. Housing costs are 83% lower than the state median of $259,000. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sheldon is Black or African American, making up 76.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 20.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (20.3%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (76.2% vs 24.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

7.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 98.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sheldon, 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.