Fairfield County is home to 20,550 people in South Carolina. The median age is 47.4, about 8 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. The typical home is worth $151,200, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. That trails the South Carolina median by roughly 31%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $47,885, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Fairfield County
What changed most since 1990
Median age32.4 → 47.4(+15.0 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Adults with a bachelor's degree9.6% → 15.2%(+5.7 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$108,963 → $151,200(+39%)US over the same years: +67%
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)20.5%(237)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32.8%(379)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.7%(401)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.3%(38)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.1%(1)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,157 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
Fairfield County, decade by decade
Fairfield 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
22,295
$51,563
$108,963
9.6%
60.8
2000
23,454
$55,335
$114,946
11.7%
62.4
2010
23,956
$46,066
$131,629
15.9%
63.5
2020
20,948
$53,161
$129,567
17.8%
68.6
2024
20,550
$47,885
$151,200
15.2%
68.7
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 Fairfield County, South Carolina?
Fairfield County, South Carolina has about 20,550 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Fairfield County, South Carolina?
The typical household in Fairfield County, South Carolina earns about $47,885 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Fairfield County, South Carolina expensive?
In Fairfield County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $151,200, and the typical rent is about $938 a month.
How educated are people in Fairfield County, South Carolina?
About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Fairfield County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Fairfield County, South Carolina?
About 15.6% of people in Fairfield County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Fairfield County, South Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Fairfield County, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,745 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.
