South Carolina Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
State Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,341,662 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 166.9 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.07% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 2,071,127 | 128,459,983 |
Population in South Carolina grew by 17.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 5,212,062 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
South Carolina has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,957 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in South Carolina is about 14% lower than in US.
Housing
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $224,357 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,126 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in South Carolina is about 16.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,126 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in South Carolina spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 185 hours, about 7.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.4 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 185 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,740 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 9,507 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,499 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Carolina:
Greenwood County (16.5 min), Sumter County (18.1 min), Florence County (18.4 min).
Slowest:
McCormick County (33.3 min), Fairfield County (31.2 min), Allendale County (30.5 min).
The average commute time in South Carolina is about the same as in US.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
South Carolina has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Carolina:
Charleston County (0.4), Beaufort County (0.3), Richland County (0.3).
Lowest:
Allendale County (0.1), Marlboro County (0.2), Chesterfield County (0.2).
Health
South Carolina has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | South Carolina | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Carolina:
Beaufort County (0.8), Charleston County (0.8), Dorchester County (0.8).
Lowest:
Dillon County (0.8), Allendale County (0.8), Marlboro County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about South Carolina.
What is the population of South Carolina?
The population of South Carolina is 5,341,662, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of South Carolina?
The population density of South Carolina is 166.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in South Carolina?
The median household income in South Carolina is $66,957, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in South Carolina?
The median home price in South Carolina is $224,357, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in South Carolina?
The unemployment rate in South Carolina is 4.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.