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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Fairfield County

South Carolina · 20,948 residents · 686 sq mi
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The short version

Fairfield County is home to 20,948 people in South Carolina. The median age is 50.2, about 11 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The typical home is worth $106,900, having risen by half since 2000. 0% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% 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

Total population
20,948
−11%since 2000
from 23,454 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.2
+36%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
686 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K22K23K24K19902000201020202024Fairfield County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.1%(850)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(951)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.4%(1,122)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.4%(1,125)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(1,018)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.5%(1,991)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 449.9%(2,076)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.5%(2,821)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6418.5%(3,877)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7415.6%(3,276)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.7%(1,402)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.1%(439)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,861
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,376 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,698
+72%since 2000
from $14,911 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.5%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.5%
US avg: 10%
Information10%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Education & health services4%
US avg: 0.8%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,900
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$718
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
74.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
26.0% rent
Persons per household
2.37 people
−15%since 2009
from 2.79 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.4
−15%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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic39.2%(9,195)
Black58.9%(13,810)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(250)
Asian0.2%(41)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic40.6%(8,503)
Black53.5%(11,201)
Hispanic / Latino2%(423)
Asian0.5%(101)
Other2%(424)
Segregation Score
21
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
Mexican1%(234)
Puerto Rican0.7%(147)
Cuban0.3%(65)
Spaniard0.1%(21)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(30)
Chinese0.1%(18)
Ancestry
American10.1%(2,274)
English4.9%(1,096)
German3.2%(710)
Irish3.1%(690)
Scotch-Irish2.9%(650)
Italian2%(459)
French1.6%(354)
Scottish1.4%(314)
West Indian0.8%(190)
Jamaican0.7%(162)
Dutch0.4%(90)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.4%(85)
Turkish0.3%(74)
British0.3%(66)
Welsh0.2%(52)
Lithuanian0.1%(31)
Hungarian0.1%(15)
Austrian0%(11)
Swedish0%(9)
Swiss0%(6)
Greek0%(5)
Haitian0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.8%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.2%
+19.2 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.4 min
+49%since 2000
from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
89.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
55.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 56.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.5%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
31.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
52.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.6%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
93.8%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married35.8%(3,030)
Married45.4%(3,844)
Widowed8.7%(737)
Divorced10%(849)
Women 15+
Never married31.8%(2,894)
Married43.1%(3,923)
Widowed14.4%(1,307)
Divorced10.7%(974)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
8.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
48.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.1%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
23.6%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
22.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.7%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
61.4%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
44.0%
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)16.9%(230)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.7%(268)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era39.8%(542)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.3%(45)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.1%(29)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,361 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 Fairfield County to nearby counties

FAIRFIELD COUNTY VS
Chester County
Income$52,458+20%
Home value$158,300+48%
Population33,001+62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAIRFIELD COUNTY VS
Newberry County
Income$61,780+41%
Home value$173,300+62%
Population39,561+94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAIRFIELD COUNTY VS
Richland County
Income$63,784+45%
Home value$242,800+127%
Population434,956+2038%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAIRFIELD COUNTY VS
Kershaw County
Income$68,231+56%
Home value$217,100+103%
Population73,166+260%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fairfield County, South Carolina?

Fairfield County, South Carolina has about 20,948 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fairfield County, South Carolina earns about $43,861 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 $106,900, and the typical rent is about $718 a month.

How educated are people in Fairfield County, South Carolina?

About 17.8% 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 18.5% 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 1,347 residents, a change of about -6 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 →