South Carolina
With a population of 5,296,225, South Carolina is the #23 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 46 counties. The median age of residents is 40.2 years. Households earn a median income of $69,324, 8% below the national median, with a poverty rate of 14.1% and a median home value of $259,000.
Demographics
South Carolina has a population of 5,296,225, making it the #23 most populous state. The median age is 40.2 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in South Carolina is $69,324, ranking #43 among all states. The poverty rate is 14.1% and unemployment stands at 4.8%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in South Carolina is $259,000. Renters pay a median of $1,180/mo and the homeownership rate is 71.9%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In South Carolina, 32.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 4.7% below the national average, ranking #34 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in South Carolina is 74.7 years. 16.6% of adults report poor or fair health and 11.0% lack health insurance. 90.4% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
15.6% of adults in South Carolina smoke , 35.4% are obese , and 19.9% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 39.4 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in South Carolina is 10.3 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 15.8 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 20.7 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
18.9% of children in South Carolina live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 6.8 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 19.7 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in South Carolina is 65.4%. The mean commute time is 28.1 min, which is 1.8% above the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, South Carolina voted Republican with a margin of 17.8%. The vote was 40.4% Dem / 58.2% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 6.1 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in South Carolina
South Carolina has 46 counties. The highest median income county is York County at $89,095.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | York County | $89,095 |
| 2 | Charleston County | $88,494 |
| 3 | Beaufort County | $86,573 |
| 4 | Berkeley County | $84,358 |
| 5 | Lancaster County | $78,869 |
| 6 | Dorchester County | $78,198 |
| 7 | Lexington County | $77,408 |
| 8 | Greenville County | $76,932 |
| 9 | Edgefield County | $73,029 |
| 10 | Aiken County | $70,609 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 46 | Allendale County | $32,328 |
| 45 | Marlboro County | $34,301 |
| 44 | Marion County | $36,301 |
| 43 | Union County | $41,621 |
| 42 | Bamberg County | $44,370 |
| 41 | Hampton County | $44,711 |
| 40 | Lee County | $44,760 |
| 39 | Orangeburg County | $45,675 |
| 38 | Williamsburg County | $46,213 |
| 37 | Dillon County | $46,605 |
All 46 Counties
About South Carolina
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.