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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Saluda County

South Carolina · 18,862 residents · 453 sq mi
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The short version

Saluda County is home to 18,862 people in South Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The median age is 44.6, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $110,100, having risen by half since 2000. Owners hold 75% of the housing stock. Renters pay $684 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.6
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
18,862
−2%since 2000
from 19,181 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.6
+21%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
453 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K18K20K21K19902000201020202024Saluda County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(1,038)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(1,161)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.5%(1,233)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(1,131)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(951)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.1%(1,906)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411%(2,078)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.6%(2,370)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.8%(2,794)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.6%(2,378)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.1%(1,348)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(474)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,410
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,774 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,097
+41%since 2000
from $16,328 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.5%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.4%
US avg: 10%
Information11.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction5.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing4.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$110,100
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$684
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
75.2%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 80.6% in 2000
24.8% rent
Persons per household
2.71 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.89 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.5
+17%since 2009
from 2.2 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-Hispanic62.2%(11,936)
Black29.8%(5,707)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(1,401)
Asian0%(7)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic59.7%(11,264)
Black21.4%(4,028)
Hispanic / Latino16%(3,012)
Asian0.2%(35)
Other1.6%(310)
Segregation Score
33
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
Central American7.9%(1,608)
Guatemalan7.9%(1,593)
Mexican6.9%(1,391)
Cuban0.2%(31)
Peruvian0.1%(25)
Argentine0.1%(16)
Panamanian0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Ancestry
American15.2%(3,076)
English7.2%(1,451)
German6.8%(1,371)
Irish5.9%(1,199)
Italian1.3%(260)
Scottish1.3%(254)
French1%(200)
Polish0.6%(119)
Norwegian0.4%(86)
Dutch0.4%(85)
Swedish0.4%(72)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.3%(56)
British0.2%(35)
Canadian0.1%(25)
Ukrainian0.1%(25)
Greek0.1%(21)
Lithuanian0.1%(18)
Belgian0.1%(15)
Portuguese0.1%(12)
Russian0%(9)
Syrian0%(5)
Turkish0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
79.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.2 min
+20%since 2000
from 25.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
54.9%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.1%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
26.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
16.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2013
from 21.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
83.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
90.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
16.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2013
from 21.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
43.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.7%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
23.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
23.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
54.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
43.6%
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)15.5%(180)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.5%(227)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era36.3%(423)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.6%(112)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.4%(5)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,165 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 Saluda County to nearby counties

SALUDA COUNTY VS
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Home value$202,700+84%
Population29,808+51%
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SALUDA COUNTY VS
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SALUDA COUNTY VS
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SALUDA COUNTY VS
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Home value$234,500+113%
Population317,588+1514%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Saluda County, South Carolina?

Saluda County, South Carolina has about 18,862 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Saluda County, South Carolina earns about $43,410 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 $110,100, and the typical rent is about $684 a month.

How educated are people in Saluda County, South Carolina?

About 18.3% 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 18.4% 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 2,505 residents, a change of about 15 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 →