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CITY · 2020 ACS

Surfside Beach

South Carolina · 4,155 residents · 1.95 sq mi
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The short version

Surfside Beach is a city of 4,155 people in South Carolina. At a median age of 57.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock. The average commute runs 20 minutes. The poverty rate is 8.8%, under the national 12.8%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 57.5
US median: 38.8
More educated
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

4,155
−6%since 2000
from 4,425 in 2000
1990 – 2025
57.5
+29%since 2000
from 44.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1.95 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K4K5K5K19902000201020202024Surfside Beach
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 52.3%(96)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.6%(106)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 143.2%(135)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 193.6%(149)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(161)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.2%(341)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 448.4%(348)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413%(542)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6421.7%(903)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7421.6%(899)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.8%(365)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(110)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$58,832
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,612 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$35,177
+44%since 2000
from $24,445 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.4%
+13.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
8.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$276,800
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $148,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$1,091
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $651 in 2000
US average: $1,124
70.6%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 61.8% in 2000
29.4% rent
2.22 people
+10%since 2009
from 2.02 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
4.7
−10%since 2009
from 5.2 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-Hispanic95.8%(4,241)
Black0.9%(42)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(63)
Asian0.4%(16)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92%(3,822)
Black1.1%(46)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(96)
Asian0.5%(21)
Other4.1%(171)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Spaniard0.1%(6)
Asian origin
Korean0.4%(17)
Indonesian0.2%(10)
Ancestry
German16.8%(751)
English15.8%(705)
American11.5%(514)
Irish11.4%(508)
Italian8.9%(400)
Polish4.8%(214)
Norwegian3.5%(157)
Swedish2.8%(126)
Scottish2.7%(120)
French2.5%(111)
Scotch-Irish2.4%(108)
Welsh0.9%(38)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
British0.8%(37)
Slovak0.8%(37)
Russian0.8%(34)
Greek0.6%(28)
Dutch0.4%(17)
Finnish0.3%(14)
Canadian0.3%(12)
Ukrainian0.2%(10)
Lithuanian0.1%(6)
Portuguese0.1%(5)
Swiss0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

36.5%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.7%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
13.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.3 min
+57%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
76.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
3.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

10.9%
−13.0 ptssince 2011
from 23.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
50.1%
−10.1 ptssince 2011
from 60.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.8%
US average: 73.3%
39.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

52.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
47.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
2.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
11.5%
−6.1 ptssince 2013
from 17.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
96.0%
US average: 91.9%
86.4%
US average: 86.2%
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

11.5%
−6.1 ptssince 2013
from 17.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
41.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
25.2%
US average: 13.7%
33.3%
US average: 17.6%
15.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
6.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
67.2%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
48.3%
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)19.2%(115)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)21.9%(131)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era46.9%(281)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.2%(19)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.7%(16)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 599 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 Surfside Beach, South Carolina?

Surfside Beach, South Carolina has about 4,155 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Surfside Beach, South Carolina?

The typical household in Surfside Beach, South Carolina earns about $58,832 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Surfside Beach, South Carolina expensive?

In Surfside Beach, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $276,800, and the typical rent is about $1,091 a month.

How educated are people in Surfside Beach, South Carolina?

About 36.5% of adults age 25 and over in Surfside Beach, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Surfside Beach, South Carolina?

About 8.8% of people in Surfside Beach, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Surfside Beach, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Surfside Beach, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 310 residents, a change of about 8 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 →