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CITY

Central

South Carolina · 5,298 residents (2025 est.) · 3.251 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#122Youngest by median ageof 6,82624.0
The short version

Central has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,258. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 51% since 2000. 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $256,600. At a median age of 24.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
56% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,320
+51%since 2000
from 3,522 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,636 / sq mi
+51%since 2000
from 1,083 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
24.0
−1%since 2000
from 24.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,298 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K4K5K6K1990201020202024Central
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,258
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,869 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,440
+63%since 2000
from $14,394 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.7%
+23.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
30.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 29.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
−7%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information6.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services4.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$256,600
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$876
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $513 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
26.4%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 32.9% in 2000
73.6% rent
Vacancy rate
14.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.3%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+36%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
89
RELATED:See current rent listings in Central on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.8%(2,741)
Black15.1%(531)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(152)
Asian1.8%(63)
Other0%
Diversity Score44.6%(1,570)
2024
White, non-Hispanic61.2%(3,255)
Black10.7%(570)
Hispanic / Latino6.2%(328)
Asian8.9%(474)
Other13%(693)
Diversity Score73.2%(3,893)
Diversity Score
73
+64%since 2000
from 45 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
56.1%
+25.9 ptssince 2000
from 30.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.3%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+74%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 11.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.3%
−8.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.3%
−17.2 ptssince 2009
from 65.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.9%
−44.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−79.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.5%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 66.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 85.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
−5.0 ptssince 2016
from 8.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Central to nearby cities

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Home value$398,400+55%
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CENTRAL VS
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CENTRAL VS
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CENTRAL VS
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Home value$218,200−15%
Population31,323+491%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Central, South Carolina?

Central, South Carolina has about 5,320 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Central, South Carolina?

The typical household in Central, South Carolina earns about $60,258 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Central, South Carolina expensive?

In Central, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $256,600, and the typical rent is about $876 a month.

How educated are people in Central, South Carolina?

About 56.1% of adults age 25 and over in Central, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Central, South Carolina?

About 30.3% of people in Central, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Central, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Central, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,643 residents, a change of about 99 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →