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COUNTY

Saluda County

South Carolina · 19,680 residents (2025 est.) · 452.709 sq mi
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The short version

Saluda County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,009. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $146,500. Households here earn about 26% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,131
Unchangedsince 2000
from 19,181 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
42 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 42 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.6
+15%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,680 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K18K20K21K1990201020202024Saluda County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(1,113)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(1,161)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(1,173)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(1,277)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(978)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(2,006)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(2,327)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(2,295)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415%(2,861)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(2,228)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.1%(1,161)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.9%(551)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,009
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,774 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,409
+86%since 2000
from $16,328 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
+9%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$146,500
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$851
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.6% in 2000
21.3% rent
Vacancy rate
19.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+33%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Saluda County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.2%(11,936)
Black29.8%(5,707)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(1,401)
Asian0%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.1%(10,931)
Black21.2%(4,063)
Hispanic / Latino17.1%(3,275)
Asian0.4%(71)
Other4.1%(791)
Diversity Score
75
+4%since 2009
from 71 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
33
Unchangedsince 2020
from 33 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
Mexican8.9%(1,705)
Central American6.2%(1,191)
Guatemalan6.1%(1,168)
Puerto Rican1.3%(255)
Peruvian0.3%(53)
Salvadoran0.1%(23)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(41)
Chinese0.2%(30)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American11%(2,110)
English10.3%(1,974)
German6.8%(1,293)
Irish6.1%(1,174)
Italian1.9%(368)
Scottish1.5%(286)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(159)
Swedish0.6%(109)
Dutch0.5%(95)
French0.4%(78)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.3%(53)
Swiss0.2%(44)
Greek0.2%(41)
Israeli0.2%(31)
Nigerian0.2%(31)
Norwegian0.1%(23)
Portuguese0.1%(22)
West Indian0.1%(20)
Hungarian0.1%(18)
Canadian0.1%(17)
Jamaican0.1%(16)
Arab0.1%(14)
Brazilian0.1%(14)
Finnish0.1%(11)
British0%(9)
Welsh0%(7)
Russian0%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Central American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.4%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.1%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+13%since 2000
from 25.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−11.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
7.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
17.9%
−60.8 ptssince 2013
from 78.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.5%
+22.4 ptssince 2017
from 55.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 86.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 13.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.8%(2,416)
Married58.3%(4,574)
Widowed3.2%(249)
Divorced7.7%(605)
Women 15+
Never married24.1%(1,892)
Married54.4%(4,263)
Widowed13.3%(1,045)
Divorced8.2%(640)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Saluda County to nearby counties

SALUDA COUNTY VS
Edgefield County
Income$73,029+43%
Home value$202,700+38%
Population29,808+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALUDA COUNTY VS
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Income$61,780+21%
Home value$173,300+18%
Population39,561+101%
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SALUDA COUNTY VS
Greenwood County
Income$52,830+4%
Home value$180,500+23%
Population70,379+258%
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SALUDA COUNTY VS
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Income$77,408+52%
Home value$234,500+60%
Population317,588+1514%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Saluda County, South Carolina?

Saluda County, South Carolina has about 19,131 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Saluda County, South Carolina earns about $51,009 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Saluda County, South Carolina expensive?

In Saluda County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $146,500, and the typical rent is about $851 a month.

How educated are people in Saluda County, South Carolina?

About 20.4% of adults age 25 and over in Saluda County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 18.7% of people in Saluda County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Saluda County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Saluda County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,774 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9602.01Census Tract 9602.02Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9603.02
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 29138ZIP 29006ZIP 29166
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →