10th most populous of 46
With 201,775 residents in 2024, Beaufort County ranks 10th by population among South Carolina's 46 counties and is home to 3.7% of the state's residents.
Beaufort County is home to 201,775 people (2024 estimate) on 576 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
201,775
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
187,098
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+7.8%
2020–2024
Land area
576 mi²
1,492 km²
Population density
350.3 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,866
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
2,080
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−214
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+3,017
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$85,327
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$12.9 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$86,573
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
46.0%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
7.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$455,600
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.8%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024201,775▲ 65%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 201,775 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 162,233 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 122,306 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +65.0% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +969 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +2,048 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 10.3 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in South Carolina | 10th of 46 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $85,327 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $12.9 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $86,573 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 46.0% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 7.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $455,600 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,653/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 48.1 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 82,333 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.9% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Beaufort County in context
Comparable indicators for Beaufort County, South Carolina and the United States.
| Indicator | County | South Carolina | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +7.8% | +7.0% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.2 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 10.3 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 15.0 | 16.7 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 350.3 | 182.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $85,327 | $60,776 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $86,573 | $69,324 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 14.1% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 46.0% | 32.1% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 7.7% | 5.8% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $455,600 | $259,000 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,653/month | $1,180/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 48.1 years | 40.2 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.9% | 71.9% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Beaufort County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 122,306 in 2000 to 201,775 in 2024, a change of +65.0%, compared with +36.1% for South Carolina as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,866 births and 2,080 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 214.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 201,775.
8th in density
Beaufort County has about 350.3 residents per square mile of land, ranking 8th of 46 counties; South Carolina averages 182.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $86,573 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 3rd of 46 South Carolina counties; the state median is $69,324.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $12.9 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 9th largest among 46 South Carolina counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.8% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS