Pickens County, South Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 14th-largest in South Carolina

The population of Pickens County, South Carolina is 132,604 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 14th-largest county in South Carolina. The median household income is $59,411, the median home value is $216,000, and the median age is 36.2.

The population of Pickens County has grown 15.8% since 2010 (119,344 → 138,207), a +1.05% annualized rate.

Pickens County within South Carolina · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

132,604

Population

+1.05%

Annual growth

267

People / sq mi

$59,411

Median Income

$216,000

Median Home Value

Pickens County covers 497 sq mi of land at 266.8 people per square mile.

About Pickens County, SC

Pickens County is a county in South Carolina with a population of 132,604. It ranks #14 among counties in South Carolina by population. The median age is 36.2, younger than the national median. The population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

The median household income in Pickens County is $59,411, below the US median of $74,580. 9.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $216,000, with monthly rent averaging $936. The homeownership rate of 70.5% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Pickens County reflects 27.3% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 9.1% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 27.1 minutes each way.

Pickens County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Pickens County had a population of 119,344 in 2010 and 138,207 in 2024, a 15.8% growth over 14 years. The peak was 138,207 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.06%.

138,207

Population (2024)

119,344

Population (2010)

138,207

Peak (2024)

1.06%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	119,344	-	-	estimate
2011	119,735	+391	+0.33%	estimate
2012	119,863	+128	+0.11%	estimate
2013	119,333	-530	-0.44%	estimate
2014	120,651	+1,318	+1.10%	estimate
2015	121,637	+986	+0.82%	estimate
2016	123,180	+1,543	+1.27%	estimate
2017	123,590	+410	+0.33%	estimate
2018	125,176	+1,586	+1.28%	estimate
2019	126,974	+1,798	+1.44%	estimate
2020	131,689	+4,715	+3.71%	estimate
2021	132,139	+450	+0.34%	estimate
2022	134,405	+2,266	+1.71%	estimate
2023	136,704	+2,299	+1.71%	estimate
2024	138,207	+1,503	+1.10%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	85.0%
Black or African American	6.2%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0.8%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

36.2

Median Age

49.9%

Female

50.1%

Male

17.0%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.7%

5–9

5.1%

10–14

5.5%

15–19

9.4%

20–24

11.9%

25–34

12.1%

35–44

10.7%

45–54

11.1%

55–59

6.3%

60–64

6.1%

65–74

9.9%

75–84

5.2%

85+

1.9%

Children (under 15): 15.3% · Seniors (65+): 17.0%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$59,411$-7,407 vs state
Mean household income	$82,867
Per-capita income	$33,075
Poverty rate	9.1%-1.0% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.0%
Employment-to-population	55.7%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

26.8%

Manufacturing

13.8%

Education & health care

11.8%

Finance & real estate

8.8%

Construction

7.7%

Retail trade

5.0%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.9%

Information

4.0%

The largest employment sector in Pickens County is professional & business services, accounting for 26.8% of workers.

How residents commute

1.0%

Drive alone

2.1%

Carpool

78.2%

Public transit

9.1%

Work from home

27.1 min

Avg commute

Housing

$216,000$-20,700 vs state

Median home value

$936

Median rent

70.5%

Homeownership rate

57,695

Total housing units

89.1%

Occupied

10.9%

Vacant

29.5%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

91.1%

With health insurance

92.5%

With broadband internet

35.4%

Foreign-born

5.9%

Veterans (18+)

15.7%

With a disability

94.5%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

87.3%

High School+

27.3%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in South Carolina

Charleston (152,014)Columbia (138,019)North Charleston (117,460)Mount Pleasant (92,662)Rock Hill (74,769)Greenville (71,755)Summerville (51,262)Goose Creek (46,964)Sumter (43,065)Florence (40,205)All South Carolina cities →

Other counties in South Carolina

Greenville County (537,575)Richland County (418,725)Charleston County (414,711)Horry County (368,937)Spartanburg County (338,096)Lexington County (300,370)York County (288,559)Berkeley County (238,723)Anderson County (207,218)Beaufort County (192,123)All South Carolina counties →

Part of South Carolina

South Carolina demographic profile All South Carolina data →

Metro areas in South Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Greenville (945,301)Columbia (839,868)Charleston (817,756)Augusta (618,022)Myrtle Beach (368,937)Spartanburg (365,086)Hilton Head Island (222,781)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Pickens County, South Carolina has a population of 132,604 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 14th-largest county in South Carolina. Population density is 267 people per square mile.

The population of Pickens County has grown 15.8% since 2010 (119,344 → 138,207), a +1.05% annualized rate.

The median household income in Pickens County, South Carolina is $59,411, with mean (average) household income of $82,867 and per-capita income of $33,075. 9.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Pickens County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (85.0%), Black or African American (6.2%), Hispanic or Latino (0.8%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Pickens County, South Carolina is 36.2 years. Residents are 49.9% female and 50.1% male.

The median home value in Pickens County is $216,000 and median monthly rent is $936. 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 57,695 total housing units, 10.9% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Pickens County, South Carolina is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 26.8% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

Charleston is among the largest cities associated with Pickens County, South Carolina, with a population of 152,014.