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CITY · 2020 ACS

Clemson

South Carolina · 17,681 residents · 7.91 sq mi
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The short version

Clemson is home to 17,681 people in South Carolina. This skews young, with a median age of 24.0. This is an unusually credentialed place: 61% of adults have a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 37.1%, above the 12.8% national rate. 37% of homes are owner-occupied. People stay put here: 67% were in the same home a year ago.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 24.0
US median: 38.8
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

17,681
+48%since 2000
from 11,939 in 2000
1990 – 2025
24.0
−2%since 2000
from 24.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
7.91 sq mi
Population, 19902024
10K12K15K17K19K19902000201020202024Clemson
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.8%(668)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94%(703)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 143.7%(660)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(1,009)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2435.8%(6,321)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413%(2,307)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 447.3%(1,285)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 546.8%(1,210)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 646.9%(1,214)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 745.9%(1,046)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.3%(763)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.8%(495)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$46,075
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,892 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$32,106
+67%since 2000
from $19,272 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.3%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
37.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 33.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade11%
US avg: 10%
Information9.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration1.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade1.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$267,000
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $129,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$950
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $535 in 2000
US average: $1,124
37.5%
−8.4 ptssince 2000
from 45.9% in 2000
62.5% rent
2.41 people
+13%since 2009
from 2.14 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
5.8
+6%since 2009
from 5.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79.9%(9,540)
Black11.3%(1,349)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(217)
Asian5.7%(683)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic75.3%(13,317)
Black7.4%(1,306)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(794)
Asian8.5%(1,501)
Other2.3%(406)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.8%(134)
Salvadoran0.4%(67)
Costa Rican0.3%(47)
Cuban0.2%(26)
Venezuelan0.1%(24)
Puerto Rican0.1%(23)
Peruvian0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Asian Indian3.4%(582)
Chinese2.4%(403)
Filipino0.5%(86)
Burmese0.4%(75)
Sri Lankan0.2%(42)
Taiwanese0.1%(23)
Japanese0.1%(17)
Korean0%(5)
Ancestry
English16.8%(2,845)
German12.1%(2,041)
Irish12%(2,027)
American4.5%(755)
Italian4.3%(720)
Scotch-Irish3.7%(622)
Polish3.4%(567)
Scottish3.1%(523)
French2.6%(437)
Swedish1.1%(188)
Macedonian0.9%(160)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
British0.8%(137)
Dutch0.8%(133)
Greek0.7%(121)
Norwegian0.7%(117)
Welsh0.7%(114)
Hungarian0.5%(78)
Iranian0.4%(75)
Egyptian0.4%(74)
Bulgarian0.4%(64)
Serbian0.2%(41)
Danish0.2%(39)
Portuguese0.2%(38)
Russian0.2%(33)
Czech0.2%(27)
Slovene0.1%(25)
Lithuanian0.1%(16)
Lebanese0.1%(14)
Austrian0.1%(14)
Turkish0.1%(14)
Slovak0.1%(13)
Section 05

Education

61.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 91.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
36.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 32.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.8 min
+84%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
65.6%
−15.8 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
57.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.4%
US average: 73.3%
60.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

55.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
44.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
8.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
96.4%
US average: 91.9%
67.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married68.7%(6,303)
Married24.5%(2,252)
Widowed1.9%(171)
Divorced4.9%(453)
Women 15+
Never married54.2%(4,074)
Married28.3%(2,125)
Widowed9.3%(702)
Divorced8.2%(613)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
66.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
24.3%
US average: 13.7%
12.1%
US average: 17.6%
5.2%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
87.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
17.0%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)4.7%(24)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)6.5%(33)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era44.8%(228)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War17.5%(89)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.1%(21)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 509 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Clemson, South Carolina?

Clemson, South Carolina has about 17,681 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clemson, South Carolina earns about $46,075 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clemson, South Carolina expensive?

In Clemson, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $267,000, and the typical rent is about $950 a month.

How educated are people in Clemson, South Carolina?

About 61.4% of adults age 25 and over in Clemson, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clemson, South Carolina?

About 37.1% of people in Clemson, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clemson, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Clemson, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,575 residents, a change of about 59 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 →