Cherokee County is a county of 56,647 people in South Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The typical home is worth $142,000, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 3%. Households here earn about 27% less than in South Carolina as a whole. 74% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $50,288, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Cherokee County
What changed most since 1990
White share78.7% → 69.7%(−9.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$112,083 → $142,000(+27%)US over the same years: +67%
Adults with a bachelor's degree9.3% → 18.4%(+9.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
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)21.6%(689)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.4%(812)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.2%(1,028)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.3%(74)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.8%(56)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,196 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
Over time
Cherokee County, decade by decade
Cherokee County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
44,506
$59,174
$112,083
9.3%
42.3
2000
52,537
$61,548
$121,322
11.8%
47.2
2010
55,342
$49,101
$118,970
11.7%
51.3
2020
56,216
$45,799
$119,143
14.4%
57.6
2024
56,647
$50,288
$142,000
18.4%
59.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
Cherokee County, South Carolina has about 56,647 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
The typical household in Cherokee County, South Carolina earns about $50,288 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Cherokee County, South Carolina expensive?
In Cherokee County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $142,000, and the typical rent is about $869 a month.
How educated are people in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
About 18.4% of adults age 25 and over in Cherokee County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
About 18.4% of people in Cherokee County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Cherokee County, South Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Cherokee County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,141 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.
