Swansea, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 744, Swansea'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

Swansea is a small community located in South Carolina, within Lexington County. The total population is 744. It ranks as the 306th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Swansea is 41.2 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. With 31.3% of the population under 18, Swansea has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Swansea is $58,250. This is 16% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.4%. This is 95% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 11.0%. This is 126% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $129,200. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Swansea is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Swansea is Black or African American, making up 46.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (46.4% vs 24.6%).

Education

17.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% 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 88.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Swansea, 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.