Zion, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 76, Zion'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

Zion is a small community located in South Carolina, within Marion County. The total population is 76. It ranks as the 456th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Zion is 50.9 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Zion is $2,499. This is 96% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 97% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 51.3%. This is 265% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Zion, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 49.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Zion is Black or African American, making up 82.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 17.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (17.1%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (82.9% vs 24.6%).

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Zion, 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.