US Census Data

South Carolina

Population, income, and housing across 46 counties and 475 cities & places.

Population
5,212,774
+3.8%’19–’23
Median household income
$66,818
+25.6%’19–’23
Median home value
$236,700
+45.8%’19–’23

South Carolina has a population of 5,212,774, spread across 46 counties and 475 cities and places.

From 2019 to 2023, South Carolina's population grew 3.8% from 5,020,806 to 5,212,774, while its median home value rose 45.8% from $162,300 to $236,700.

The typical home was built around 1991. 14.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023
Population
5,212,774
Median age
40.1 yrs
Median household income
$66,818
Median home value
$236,700
Median gross rent
$1,126
Housing units
2,401,638
Homeownership rate
71.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
31.5%
Unemployment rate
5.0%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023
Population
5,020,8065,212,774
Median household income
$53,199$66,818
Median home value
$162,300$236,700
Median gross rent
$894$1,126
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueMedian gross rent
20195,020,806$53,199$162,300$894
20205,091,517$54,864$170,100$918
20215,078,903$58,234$181,800$970
20225,142,750$63,623$216,200$1,065
20235,212,774$66,818$236,700$1,126

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

CountShare
Under 5287,8685.5%
5 to 17839,19416.1%
18 to 24475,3389.1%
25 to 34671,64212.9%
35 to 44647,39212.4%
45 to 54634,49012.2%
55 to 64693,28113.3%
65 to 74589,96011.3%
75 and over373,6097.2%

Race & ethnicity

CountShare
White (non-Hispanic)3,243,70362.2%
Black or African American1,307,68725.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native9,3650.2%
Asian88,2461.7%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander3,0340.1%
Some other race22,6980.4%
Two or more races169,1413.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)368,9007.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

CountShare
No high school diploma375,69710.4%
High school graduate1,019,31328.2%
Some college or associate's1,079,15629.9%
Bachelor's degree701,83519.4%
Graduate or professional degree434,37312.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work
26 min

How workers get to work

CountShare
Drove alone1,855,58677.9%
Carpooled199,7258.4%
Public transit10,0860.4%
Walked39,8281.7%
Bicycle4,7450.2%
Worked from home237,42410.0%
Other means33,8471.4%

Travel time

CountShare
Under 15 min535,51425.0%
15 to 29 min836,46239.0%
30 to 44 min456,41221.3%
45 to 59 min173,6558.1%
60+ min141,7746.6%

Households

Average household size
2.45
Poverty rate
14.2% (719,720 of 5,072,217)
CountShare
Family households1,345,28165.0%
Nonfamily households725,10935.0%

Housing

Median year structure built
1991

Occupancy

CountShare
Occupied2,070,39086.2%
Vacant331,24813.8%

Tenure (of occupied units)

CountShare
Owner-occupied1,478,85871.4%
Renter-occupied591,53228.6%

Units in structure

CountShare
1-unit, detached1,543,36664.3%
1-unit, attached84,1303.5%
2 to 4 units108,4444.5%
5 to 19 units179,8057.5%
20 or more units129,4805.4%
Mobile home & other356,41314.8%

Geography

State FIPS
45
USPS
SC
Land area
30,064 sq mi
Water area
1,959 sq mi
Center point
33.8742, -80.8543

South Carolina rankings

21

National rankings

21

Counties

46

Largest cities by land area

10

Other states

51
South Carolina Population & Demographics (2024) | US Census Data