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Summerville, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Summerville, South Carolina had a total population of 51,654, the 7th largest town in South Carolina, with a median household income of $81,046, which is 17% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Summerville Quick Facts

Population 51,654
Median Household Income $81,046
Median Home Value $328,100
Poverty Rate 10.1%
Unemployment Rate 4.9%
Median Age 38.9 years
Homeownership Rate 69.1%
Affordability Ratio 4.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.5%
High School Graduation Rate 93.4%
Diversity Index 54/100
Population 51,654 7th of 474
Median Income $81,046 top 20%
Poverty Rate 10.1% 19% lower than national
Median Home Value $328,100 top 20%

How Summerville Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population51,26251,654+0.8%
Median household income$78,621$81,046+3.1%
Median home value$295,700$328,100+11.0%

How Summerville Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.4%
$25K-$50K 16.5%
$50K-$100K 30.3%
$100K+ 39.9%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.8%
$10K-$15K
3.6%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
3.1%
$35K-$40K
2.9%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
7.5%
$60K-$75K
9.7%
$75K-$100K
13.2%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
8.8%
$150K-$200K
11.1%
$200K+
10.1%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
68.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.1%
Renter 30.9%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,526/mo 22.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Summerville Rankings in South Carolina

#7 Population of 474
#76 Median Income of 417
#92 Education of 473
#62 Home Value of 414

Other Cities in Charleston County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Charleston 154,338 $92,414 12.3% $509,700
North Charleston 119,913 $62,956 14.4% $302,200
Mount Pleasant 93,993 $124,755 6.1% $748,500
Ladson 16,140 $78,760 12.3% $234,900
James Island 12,198 $104,217 5.6% $508,600
Hollywood 5,382 $73,693 12.2% $460,100
Isle of Palms 4,362 $156,979 2.5% $1,581,300
Ravenel 2,615 $82,738 19.0% $238,700
Kiawah Island 2,326 $213,594 3.1% $2,000,000+
Seabrook Island 2,204 $127,500 4.4% $1,001,400

Cities Similar to Summerville

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Goose Creek48,078$88,178$306,00029.7%6.5%
Greer41,536$82,626$288,70041.4%10.1%
Sumter43,053$55,592$199,10028.7%16.7%
Hilton Head Island37,911$94,657$687,40056.1%8.6%
Greenville72,935$71,472$487,50055.5%14.0%

Population Overview

Summerville is a mid-sized community located in South Carolina, within Charleston County. The total population is 51,654. It ranks as the 7th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Summerville is 38.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Summerville is $81,046. This is 17% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.1%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. The median home value is $328,100. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 69.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Summerville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.4%.

Education

33.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher 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 93.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Summerville, 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 Summerville, South Carolina?

Summerville, South Carolina has a population of 51,654 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Summerville, SC?

The median household income in Summerville is $81,046, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Summerville, SC?

The poverty rate in Summerville is 10.1%. This means approximately 5,200 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Summerville, South Carolina?

Summerville's population is 63.8% White, 19.4% Black, 9.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.9% Asian.

What is the median home value in Summerville, SC?

The median home value in Summerville is $328,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x.

How educated is Summerville, South Carolina?

33.5% of adults (25+) in Summerville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.