CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Surfside Beach

South Carolina · 3,845 residents · 1.95 sq mi

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With 3,845 people, Surfside Beach is a city in South Carolina. At a median age of 37.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The poverty rate is 5.5%, under the national 13.2%. The average commute runs 16 minutes. 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. There are 580 fewer people here than in 2000.

At a glance

Average income

near the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 37.6

US median: 33.0

More educated

26% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 19%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

3,845

−13%vs 2000

vs 4,425 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

37.6

−16%vs 2000

vs 44.5 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1.95 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 55.3%(204)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 95.9%(225)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 143.7%(141)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 195.3%(204)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 247.2%(275)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3417%(654)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4415.8%(609)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.5%(443)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6413.3%(513)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7411.9%(457)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 843.1%(120)

US avg: 4%

85 and over0%(0)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$29,304

−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $40,612 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$14,506

−41%vs 2000

vs $24,445 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

5.5%

−1.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.5% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$91,000

−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $148,200 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$493

Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $651 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

60.3%

−1.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 61.8% in 2000

39.7% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic95.8%(4,241)

Black0.9%(42)

Hispanic / Latino1.4%(63)

Asian0.4%(16)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic96.9%(3,726)

Black0.6%(23)

Hispanic / Latino2%(76)

Asian0.4%(16)

Other2.1%(80)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Central American0.2%(10)

Salvadoran0.2%(10)

Puerto Rican0.2%(8)

Mexican0.1%(6)

Asian origin

Korean0.3%(13)

Filipino0.1%(6)

Japanese0.1%(5)

Pacific Islander origin

Chamorro0.6%(25)

Ancestry

English19.2%(821)

German13.6%(581)

Irish11.5%(489)

American7.2%(309)

Italian4.9%(211)

Polish4.1%(173)

Scottish3%(128)

French2.3%(99)

Swedish2.2%(93)

Norwegian2.1%(91)

Scotch-Irish1.9%(79)

Portuguese1%(44)

+ 18 more ancestry groups with data

British0.8%(36)

Subsaharan African0.8%(36)

French Canadian0.7%(31)

Danish0.5%(23)

Ukrainian0.5%(23)

Austrian0.4%(19)

Greek0.4%(16)

Lithuanian0.4%(15)

Russian0.3%(13)

Finnish0.3%(11)

Dutch0.2%(10)

Welsh0.2%(10)

Armenian0.2%(8)

Arab0.2%(7)

Lebanese0.2%(7)

Croatian0.1%(6)

Slovene0.1%(6)

Romanian0.1%(5)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

25.9%

−1.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 27.5% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

88.9%

−1.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 90.8% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

7.4%

−2.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 9.8% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

15.5 min

+20%vs 2000

vs 12.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married34.3%(679)

Married57.6%(1,141)

Widowed1.5%(30)

Divorced6.6%(131)

Women 15+

Never married21.8%(433)

Married54.5%(1,081)

Widowed9.3%(185)

Divorced14.3%(284)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

10.4%

−7.2 ptssince 2013

from 17.6% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

41.8%

+0.6 ptssince 2020

from 41.2% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

22.0%

−3.2 ptssince 2020

from 25.2% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

31.2%

−2.1 ptssince 2020

from 33.3% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

14.1%

−1.2 ptssince 2020

from 15.3% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

4.5%

−1.9 ptssince 2020

from 6.4% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

65.1%

−2.1 ptssince 2020

from 67.2% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

45.6%

−2.7 ptssince 2020

from 48.3% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

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, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)11.2%(44)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)27.5%(108)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era31%(122)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War2.5%(10)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II3.8%(15)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 393 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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