Surfside Beach town, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Surfside Beach town is a small community located in South Carolina. The total population is 4,217. It ranks as the 111th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Surfside Beach town is 55.4 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 9.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Surfside Beach town is $74,202. This is 11% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $412,100. Housing costs are 74% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Surfside Beach town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.6%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 25.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

40.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% higher 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 98.1%. Notably, 16.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Surfside Beach town, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.