AreaProfile

South Carolina Area Profiles

63 published city profiles across South Carolina, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.

Find places in South Carolina that fit you →

Statewide signals

OpportunityTop 38% of 51 states measured56
GrowthTop 1% of 51 states measured83
Housing affordability31st of 51 states measured69
ClimateTop 16% of 51 states measured75
Physical resilience36th of 51 states measured44
AccessTop 10% of 51 states measured94
Economic stability43rd of 51 states measured20

Cities

63 published profiles across 14 areas

Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC

15 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
GreenvilleGreenville County72,93571
GreerGreenville County41,53675
AndersonAnderson County30,05168
MauldinGreenville County27,05574
SimpsonvilleGreenville County26,14474
EasleyPickens County24,84165
TaylorsGreenville County24,50575
Wade HamptonGreenville County20,89875
Five ForksGreenville County18,65672
ClemsonPickens County18,07266
BereaGreenville County16,86262
GanttGreenville County15,40165
ParkerGreenville County12,89863
Fountain InnGreenville County12,02073
PowdersvilleGreenville County10,77173

Columbia, SC

11 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
ColumbiaRichland County139,64365
LexingtonLexington County24,58572
St. AndrewsRichland County19,86865
West ColumbiaLexington County17,96366
Seven OaksRichland County15,92168
DentsvilleRichland County15,20963
CayceLexington County13,74162
Oak GroveLexington County12,25664
IrmoRichland County11,81375
Red BankLexington County11,31469
Forest AcresRichland County10,53066

Charleston-North Charleston, SC

9 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
CharlestonCharleston County154,33868
North CharlestonCharleston County119,91359
Mount PleasantCharleston County93,99368
SummervilleDorchester County51,65467
Goose CreekBerkeley County48,07863
HanahanBerkeley County21,45264
LadsonCharleston County16,14062
Moncks CornerBerkeley County15,48559
James IslandCharleston County12,19866

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC

9 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
Myrtle BeachHorry County38,37158
ConwayHorry County27,26356
Carolina ForestHorry County26,26366
SocasteeHorry County23,79664
North Myrtle BeachHorry County19,85562
Red HillHorry County15,92064
Little RiverHorry County11,77160
Garden CityHorry County11,59162
Murrells InletHorry County10,04465

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

5 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
Hilton Head IslandBeaufort County37,91159
BlufftonBeaufort County33,15768
Port RoyalBeaufort County15,57957
BeaufortBeaufort County13,74754
HardeevilleJasper County10,87154

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

4 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
Rock HillYork County75,25967
Fort MillYork County30,77581
Lake WylieYork County16,00677
Tega CayYork County13,61583

Spartanburg, SC

2 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
SpartanburgSpartanburg County38,91058
Boiling SpringsSpartanburg County12,93668

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC

2 cities

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
AikenAiken County32,52163
North AugustaAiken County25,65375

Sumter, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
SumterSumter County43,05352

Florence, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
FlorenceFlorence County40,40859

Greenwood, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
GreenwoodGreenwood County22,53659

Orangeburg, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
OrangeburgOrangeburg County13,25350

Gaffney, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
GaffneyCherokee County12,59652

Newberry, SC

1 city

CityCountyPopulationArea Score
NewberryNewberry County10,79059

Strongest opportunity

  1. Mount Pleasant 95
  2. Five Forks 92
  3. Fort Mill 92
  4. Bluffton 91
  5. Charleston 90

Fastest development

  1. Columbia 90
  2. Conway 89
  3. North Myrtle Beach 89
  4. Fountain Inn 88
  5. Hardeeville 87

Statewide physical risk

Ice stormModerate
EarthquakeElevated
HurricaneElevated
LightningModerate
Cold waveModerate
LandslideModerate

Low or minimal exposure: tornado, inland flooding, strong wind, heat wave, wildfire, hail, winter weather, drought, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity, avalanche.

Population-weighted across every county in South Carolina, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.

Statewide data

MetricValueCompared nationallySource period
Broadband access ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year88.8%Bottom 18%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Distance to major airportNASR current cycle16 miTop 12%of 51NASR current cycle
Major airports within 100 milesNASR current cycle4Top 32%of 51NASR current cycle
No internet access ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year8.3%Bottom 18%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Annual precipitation1991-2020 Normals43.7"64th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average January low1991-2020 Normals37°F94th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average July high1991-2020 Normals93°F92nd percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Comfortable months1991-2020 Normals7Top 22%of 511991-2020 Normals
Seasonal temperature swing1991-2020 Normals36°F18th percentileof 511991-2020 Normals
Average household size ±0.012024 ACS 5-Year2.4439th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Households ±5,7822024 ACS 5-Year2,117,98957th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median age ±0.22024 ACS 5-Year40.271st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population2024 ACS 5-Year5,296,22557th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population change (1 year)July 1, 2024 estimate+1.7%Top 8%of 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Population change (4 years)July 1, 2024 estimate+6.8%Top 6%of 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Population density2024 ACS 5-Year176/sq mi61st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Population estimateJuly 1, 2024 estimate5,478,83156th percentileof 51July 1, 2024 estimate
Average permitted value per unit12 months ending July 2026$301,21278th percentileof 5112 months ending July 2026
Housing units permitted (12 months)12 months ending July 202647,203Top 10%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Multifamily share of permits12 months ending July 202615.0%6th percentileof 5112 months ending July 2026
Permit change (3 years)12 months ending July 2026+13.3%Top 32%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)12 months ending July 2026+1.8%Top 50%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents12 months ending July 20268.9Top 2%of 5112 months ending July 2026
Cost of living index202393.5Top 42%of 512023
Home price change (1 year)2026 Q2+3.8%60th percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price change (5 years)2026 Q2+54.8%88th percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price change (10 years)2026 Q2+114.1%84th percentileof 512026 Q2
Home price to income ±0.02024 ACS 5-Year3.2Top 47%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year71.9%84th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units ±3112024 ACS 5-Year2,443,03957th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent ±$92024 ACS 5-Year$1,180Top 43%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value ±$1,4212024 ACS 5-Year$259,00037th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median property taxes ±$72024 ACS 5-Year$1,25112th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Owner household income ±$5982024 ACS 5-Year$82,205Bottom 18%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Property tax rate ±0.00%2024 ACS 5-Year0.48%10th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Rent as a share of income ±0.4%2024 ACS 5-Year31.1%Bottom 20%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Seasonal and second homes ±2,2282024 ACS 5-Year109,13075th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Second homes2024 ACS 5-Year4.5%71st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Vacancy rate2024 ACS 5-Year8.8%80th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Vacant housing units ±5,7532024 ACS 5-Year325,05075th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income ±$5702024 ACS 5-Year$69,324Bottom 18%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income ±$2992024 ACS 5-Year$39,236Bottom 22%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year13.5%Bottom 22%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Average commute ±0.1 min2024 ACS 5-Year27.4 minBottom 41%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Bachelor's degree or higher ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year32.1%Bottom 35%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Drove alone to work ±0.3%2024 ACS 5-Year76.3%80th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
EmploymentAugust 20262,572,438Top 44%of 51August 2026
Employment change (3 years)August 2026+5.6%Top 1%of 51August 2026
Employment change (year over year)August 2026+3.6%Top 1%of 51August 2026
Labor forceAugust 20262,687,24856th percentileof 51August 2026
Labor force participation ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year76.7%Bottom 18%of 522024 ACS 5-Year
Public transit to work ±0.0%2024 ACS 5-Year0.4%10th percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment change (year over year)August 2026−0.5%Top 20%of 51August 2026
Unemployment rateAugust 20264.3%Bottom 40%of 51August 2026
Worked from home ±0.2%2024 ACS 5-Year11.5%31st percentileof 522024 ACS 5-Year
Math proficiency2018-19 school year51.6%Top 18%of 502018-19 school year
Public schools2024-25 school year1,24044th percentileof 512024-25 school year
Reading proficiency2018-19 school year54.6%Top 38%of 492018-19 school year
Schools behind the staffing ratio2024-25 school year1,17343rd percentileof 502024-25 school year
Students per teacher2024-25 school year14.3Bottom 47%of 502024-25 school year

Counties in South Carolina

22 published

Some measures are published by county and nowhere finer — death rates by intent among them. On a county page those describe the geography they are printed on.

Greenville County, SC
548,166 residents · 4.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Richland County, SC
422,117 residents · 12.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Charleston County, SC
420,264 residents · 6.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Horry County, SC
383,016 residents · 5.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Spartanburg County, SC
347,852 residents · 7.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Lexington County, SC
304,887 residents · 5.2 homicide deaths per 100k
York County, SC
293,673 residents · 6.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Berkeley County, SC
246,802 residents · 4.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Anderson County, SC
210,478 residents · 7.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Beaufort County, SC
195,289 residents · 7.0 homicide deaths per 100k
Aiken County, SC
174,160 residents · 8.5 homicide deaths per 100k
Dorchester County, SC
167,201 residents · 8.2 homicide deaths per 100k
Florence County, SC
137,117 residents · 16.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Pickens County, SC
134,629 residents · 3.8 homicide deaths per 100k
Sumter County, SC
104,725 residents · 13.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Orangeburg County, SC
83,253 residents · 22.9 homicide deaths per 100k
Greenwood County, SC
69,489 residents · 9.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Kershaw County, SC
68,314 residents · 7.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Cherokee County, SC
56,647 residents · 9.4 homicide deaths per 100k
Newberry County, SC
38,435 residents · 8.7 homicide deaths per 100k
Jasper County, SC
32,166 residents · 13.3 homicide deaths per 100k
Edgefield County, SC
27,476 residents · 6.9 homicide deaths per 100k