Berkeley County, SC Local Data & Statistics

State: SC

Total population: 246,802 Household income: $84,358 Rent: $1,654

Overview

Total population

246,802

Rent

$1,654

Year built

2002

Household income

$84,358

Per capita income

$40,958

Poverty rate

9.9%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

South Carolina

Total population

246,802

Adults over 25

165,909

Total households

93,711

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$84,358

Per capita income

$40,958

Poverty rate

9.9%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

45.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,654

Year built

2002

Households that rent

25.5%

Households that own

74.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

62.4%

Black

23%

Asian

2.6%

Two or more races

7.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

9.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

90.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.6%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

12.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.8%

High school graduate or GED

27.7%

Some college or associate degree

12.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Berkeley County, SC with: Charleston Metro Area, SC South Carolina United States

Berkeley County, SC

Total population246,802

Rent$1,654

Year built2002

Household income$84,358

Per capita income$40,958

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Charleston Metro Area, SC

Total population834,267

Rent$1,605

Year built1996

Household income$85,254

Per capita income$48,581

Poverty rate10.9%

Unemployment rate3.5%

South Carolina State

Total population5,296,225

Rent$1,180

Year built1992

Household income$69,324

Per capita income$39,236

Poverty rate14.1%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyBerkeley County, SC	Metro AreaCharleston Metro Area, SC	StateSouth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	246,802	834,267	5,296,225	334,922,499
Rent	$1,654	$1,605	$1,180	$1,413
Year built	2002	1996	1992	1980
Household income	$84,358	$85,254	$69,324	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,958	$48,581	$39,236	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.9%	10.9%	14.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	3.5%	4.2%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Berkeley County, SC

Berkeley County is located in South Carolina .

Rent & Income

In Berkeley County, the monthly rent is $1,654 and household income is $84,358. Rent is higher than both South Carolina and the U.S., and household income is higher than South Carolina and similar to the U.S. The poverty rate is 9.9%, which is lower than both South Carolina and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 25.5% of households. About 45.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is lower than both South Carolina and the national rate.

Berkeley County, SC — Rent vs Household Income

Berkeley County, SC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Berkeley County, SC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,654 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Berkeley County, SC

Annual Household Income: $84,358

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Berkeley County, SC

Estimated Rate: 9.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Berkeley County, SC

In Berkeley County, SC, households that rent: 23,850 (25.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	23,850	25.5%
Owner-Occupied	69,861	74.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Berkeley County, SC

In Berkeley County, SC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 10,855 (45.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	10,855	45.5%
Other renter households	12,995	54.5%
Total renter households	23,850	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Berkeley County, SC

Less than High School: 47,793 people (28.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 45,997 people (27.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 20,743 people (12.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 51,376 people (31%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 165,909

📊 Unemployment Rate in Berkeley County, SC

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.