South Carolina
46 counties, 475 cities and towns, and 424 ZIP codes.
Population
5,296,225
Land area
30,064sq mi
People per sq mi
176
Cities and towns
475
Largest cities in South Carolina
South Carolina at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $69,324 a year, 14% less than the U.S. figure of $80,734.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $259,000 (22% below the U.S.) and median rent is $1,180 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Charleston (154,338), Columbia (139,643) and North Charleston (119,913).
Local data for South Carolina
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals66
- Emergency Rooms55
- Nursing Homes187
- Schools1,570
- Colleges87
- Libraries207
- Banks1,196
- Post Offices463
- Parks1,802
- Grocery Stores1,965
- Restaurants16,576
- Affordable Housing406
- Home Health Agencies67
- Hospice Care88
- Dialysis Centers149
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals35
- Community Health Centers307
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment195
- National Cemeteries3
- Private Schools293
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools44
- Superfund Sites34
- Toxic Release Facilities565
- Historic Places974
Housing and community stats
South Carolina, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$69,324
Poverty rate
14.1%
Median home value
$259,000
Prices +2.4% in a year
Median rent
$1,180/mo
Homeownership
71.9%
Bachelor's or higher
32.1%
Median age
40.2
Average commute
25.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (495,222), Irish Americans (480,662), Italian Americans (178,975).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,728
2,320,850 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,776
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$125B
FY 2026, $24,430 per person
PPP loans
$8.68B
150,226 loans, 1,093,253 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$32.64M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
Environment and hazard risk
South Carolina, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
High-risk counties
4
of 46 rated by FEMA
Storm events since 1996
29,101
289 deaths
Flood insurance policies
121,413
$1.03B paid since 1978
Superfund sites
34
565 toxic release facilities
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone974 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in South Carolina, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.8%
U.S. 33.3% +2.5 pts
Diabetes
13.9%
U.S. 12.1% +1.8 pts
Smoking
13.3%
U.S. 12.8% +0.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.8%
U.S. 11.1% +0.7 pts
Largest cities in South Carolina
| Name | Population | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 154,338 | 115.2 |
| Columbia | 139,643 | 138.5 |
| North Charleston | 119,913 | 78 |
| Mount Pleasant | 93,993 | 49.7 |
| Rock Hill | 75,259 | 44.5 |
| Greenville | 72,935 | 30.3 |
| Summerville | 51,654 | 22.6 |
| Goose Creek | 48,078 | 43.4 |
| Sumter | 43,053 | 33.1 |
| Greer | 41,536 | 23.5 |
| Florence | 40,408 | 24.8 |
| Spartanburg | 38,910 | 20.3 |
| Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | 23.4 |
| Hilton Head Island | 37,911 | 41.4 |
| Bluffton | 33,157 | 52.1 |
| Aiken | 32,521 | 21.8 |
| Fort Mill | 30,775 | 19.6 |
| Anderson | 30,051 | 16 |
| Conway | 27,263 | 27.7 |
| Mauldin | 27,055 | 12.4 |
| Carolina Forest | 26,263 | 16.8 |
| Simpsonville | 26,144 | 9.7 |
| North Augusta | 25,653 | 21.4 |
| Easley | 24,841 | 13.2 |
| Lexington | 24,585 | 12 |
Counties, cities and towns in South Carolina
Population shown. Largest 400 of 475 cities and towns listed
- Greenville County548,166
- Richland County422,117
- Charleston County420,264
- Horry County383,016
- Spartanburg County347,852
- Lexington County304,887
- York County293,673
- Berkeley County246,802
- Anderson County210,478
- Beaufort County195,289
- Aiken County174,160
- Dorchester County167,201
- Florence County137,117
- Pickens County134,629
- Sumter County104,725
- Lancaster County104,475
- Orangeburg County83,253
- Oconee County80,469
- Greenwood County69,489
- Laurens County68,666
- Kershaw County68,314
- Georgetown County64,811
- Darlington County62,558
- Cherokee County56,647
- Chesterfield County43,784
- Colleton County38,783
- Newberry County38,435
- Chester County32,182
- Jasper County32,166
- Clarendon County30,986
- Williamsburg County30,282
- Marion County28,664
- Dillon County27,862
- Edgefield County27,476
- Union County26,885
- Marlboro County25,975
- Abbeville County24,420
- Fairfield County20,550
- Barnwell County20,521
- Saluda County19,131
- Hampton County18,254
- Lee County16,166
- Calhoun County14,182
- Bamberg County13,042
- McCormick County9,760
- Allendale County7,661
Frequently asked questions
- How many counties are in South Carolina?
- South Carolina has 46 counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- What is the largest city in South Carolina?
- Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina, with a population of about 154,338.
- What is the population of South Carolina?
- South Carolina has about 5,296,225 residents, based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- How many ZIP codes are in South Carolina?
- There are 424 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in South Carolina.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey)