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COUNTY

Berkeley County

South Carolina · 274,666 residents (2025 est.) · 1,104 sq mi
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Part of the Charleston metro area
The short version

Berkeley County is a county of 246,802 people in South Carolina. Since 2000 the county has risen by half, up 104,151 people. Few US counties rank higher on income. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 22% more than in South Carolina as a whole. The foreign-born share is 7%.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 113%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
246,802
+73%since 2000
from 142,651 in 2000
274,666 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
224 / sq mi
+51%since 2009
from 148 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
+15%since 2000
from 32.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,104 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
117K152K188K223K259K19902000201020202024Berkeley County
2024247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.2%(15,221)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(16,884)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.5%(16,012)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(16,442)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.6%(16,334)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.3%(35,270)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414%(34,497)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(29,786)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.1%(29,741)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.3%(23,015)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(10,726)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.2%(2,874)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,358
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,908 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,958
+143%since 2000
from $16,879 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.7%
+28.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.422
+4%since 2010
from 0.405 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$310,300
+113%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,654
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $562 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.2% in 2000
25.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.8%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.59 people
−9%since 2009
from 2.84 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.5%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+27%since 2009
from 2.9 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.
Gentrification Score
87
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.8%(95,314)
Black26.5%(37,739)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(3,935)
Asian1.8%(2,636)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic60.1%(148,260)
Black22.7%(56,035)
Hispanic / Latino9.2%(22,587)
Asian2.5%(6,245)
Other5.5%(13,675)
Diversity Score
72
+14%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−6%since 2020
from 26 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.7%(9,106)
Puerto Rican1.8%(4,329)
Central American1.2%(3,038)
South American1.2%(3,010)
Honduran0.7%(1,605)
Colombian0.4%(1,023)
Cuban0.4%(1,009)
Venezuelan0.4%(920)
Dominican0.3%(639)
Salvadoran0.2%(536)
Guatemalan0.2%(507)
Spaniard0.2%(433)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(297)
Peruvian0.1%(286)
Panamanian0.1%(247)
Bolivian0.1%(188)
Ecuadorian0.1%(173)
Costa Rican0.1%(125)
Uruguayan0%(94)
Argentine0%(19)
Asian origin
Filipino1.2%(2,910)
Asian Indian0.5%(1,234)
Vietnamese0.2%(550)
Chinese0.2%(469)
Korean0.2%(445)
Japanese0.1%(256)
Thai0%(68)
Hmong0%(51)
Pakistani0%(42)
Taiwanese0%(16)
Kazakh0%(16)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Burmese0%(11)
Laotian0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(47)
Samoan0%(39)
Chuukese0%(15)
Ancestry
English10.7%(26,370)
Irish9.7%(23,945)
German9.5%(23,482)
American6.9%(16,994)
Italian3.7%(9,054)
French2.1%(5,142)
Scottish1.8%(4,422)
Polish1.6%(4,011)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(2,945)
Norwegian0.7%(1,800)
Dutch0.7%(1,609)
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(1,264)
British0.5%(1,176)
Welsh0.4%(1,107)
West Indian0.4%(974)
Brazilian0.3%(848)
Arab0.3%(742)
Greek0.3%(713)
Czech0.2%(561)
Ukrainian0.2%(531)
Danish0.2%(462)
Russian0.2%(405)
Jamaican0.2%(389)
Lithuanian0.1%(355)
Hungarian0.1%(349)
Swiss0.1%(328)
Portuguese0.1%(324)
Nigerian0.1%(312)
Haitian0.1%(292)
Moroccan0.1%(290)
Lebanese0.1%(270)
Canadian0.1%(254)
Ethiopian0.1%(233)
Slovak0.1%(203)
Croatian0.1%(200)
Austrian0.1%(192)
Romanian0.1%(159)
Australian0.1%(143)
Armenian0.1%(138)
Turkish0%(120)
Finnish0%(109)
Iranian0%(89)
Bulgarian0%(68)
Belgian0%(67)
Egyptian0%(63)
Latvian0%(33)
Kenyan0%(33)
Syrian0%(20)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.0%
+16.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.2%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.7 min
+65%since 2000
from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.4%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 71.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.6%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 12.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2013
from 17.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+11.3 ptssince 2017
from 78.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 92.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
86.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 84.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
90.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 4.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.5%(33,896)
Married54.9%(53,972)
Widowed3.1%(3,008)
Divorced7.6%(7,465)
Women 15+
Never married27.9%(27,976)
Married51.4%(51,558)
Widowed8%(8,020)
Divorced12.7%(12,790)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2013
from 17.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
54.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 53.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 16.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 18.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 4.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 69.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 35.0% 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)36.2%(8,113)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)36.6%(8,197)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27.1%(6,066)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.4%(529)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(11)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 22,409 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Berkeley County to nearby counties

BERKELEY COUNTY VS
Dorchester County
Income$78,198−7%
Home value$329,300+6%
Population178,397−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKELEY COUNTY VS
Charleston County
Income$88,494+5%
Home value$489,100+58%
Population436,200+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKELEY COUNTY VS
Williamsburg County
Income$46,213−45%
Home value$104,500−66%
Population29,662−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BERKELEY COUNTY VS
Clarendon County
Income$52,401−38%
Home value$158,000−49%
Population31,043−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Berkeley County, South Carolina?

Berkeley County, South Carolina has about 246,802 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Berkeley County, South Carolina?

The typical household in Berkeley County, South Carolina earns about $84,358 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Berkeley County, South Carolina expensive?

In Berkeley County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $310,300, and the typical rent is about $1,654 a month.

How educated are people in Berkeley County, South Carolina?

About 31.0% of adults age 25 and over in Berkeley County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Berkeley County, South Carolina?

About 9.9% of people in Berkeley County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Berkeley County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Berkeley County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 118,026 residents, a change of about 92 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 →