Greenville County, South Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Greenville County, South Carolina, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Greenville County, South Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Greenville County, South Carolina. The estimated population of Greenville County, South Carolina is 519,178 people, with a median age of 38.5.

We can look at the total population in Greenville County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
519,178
+0.59%
+5.88%
2020
516,126
+1.8%
-
2019
507,003
+1.73%
-
2018
498,402
+1.65%
-
2017
490,332
 - -

Population of Greenville County, South Carolina by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
67.3%
69%
 -2.46%
Black/African American
16.9%
18%
 -6.11%
Native
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%
Hispanic
9.7%
8.8%
 +10.23%
Asian
2.5%
2.2%
 +13.64%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.2%
0.1%
 +100.00%
Two Or More Races
2.9%
1.7%
 +70.59%
Other
0.4%
0.1%
 +300.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Greenville County, South Carolina by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 38.5 +0.52% 37.5 +0.81% 39.4 +0.25%
2020 38.3 +0.26% 37.2 +0.54% 39.3 +0.26%
2019 38.2 +0.26% 37 +0.27% 39.2 +0.26%
2018 38.1 +0.26% 36.9 0% 39.1 +0.26%
2017 38 - 36.9 - 39 -

The median age of Greenville County, South Carolina gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 33,170 +0.55% 31,262 +5.84% 33,348 33,120
10 to 19 31,416 +9.39% 31,325 +2.41% 34,467 32,079
20 to 29 32,805 +1.92% 33,642 +2.99% 33,419 34,650
30 to 39 31,623 +7.29% 33,081 +7.25% 33,987 35,539
40 to 49 32,366 +2.83% 33,167 +1.94% 33,285 33,812
50 to 59 32,002 +0.9% 34,209 -0.89% 32,288 33,906
60 to 69 25,130 +12.58% 28,416 +11.08% 28,439 31,685
70+ 19,497 +20.99% 27,221 +14.17% 23,904 31,250

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Greenville County, South Carolina is $65,513.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Greenville County.

  • Under 25
    $38,558.00
  • 25 to 44
    $72,480.00
  • 45 to 64
    $77,143.00
  • 65 and over
    $48,349.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Greenville County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Greenville County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Greenville County, South Carolina is currently $92,330.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

7.78% of households in Greenville County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Greenville County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    15.83%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    22.47%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.80%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.29%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    15.71%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    7.13%
  • $200,000 or more
    7.78%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Greenville County is $37,169.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Greenville County by the total population of Greenville County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Greenville County, South Carolina, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Greenville County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    16.48%
  • Bachelor's degree
    39.33%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.05%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    31.39%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.75%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Greenville County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Greenville County over the age of 16 is 412,963.

Of those people, a total of 65.20% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Greenville County is 62.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 26,799 43.60% 9.60%
20 to 24 years 31,895 78.00% 6.10%
25 to 29 years 36,174 86.10% 3.80%
30 to 34 years 35,804 84.00% 3.10%
35 to 44 years 67,308 84.40% 3.50%
45 to 54 years 67,189 82.30% 2.80%
55 to 59 years 32,516 74.00% 3.70%
60 to 64 years 33,314 58.20% 3.60%
65 to 74 years 50,032 25.90% 3.40%
75 years and over 31,932 8.70% 2.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Greenville County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 300,638 63.90% 3.20%
Black or African American 70,587 67.40% 6.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1,569 67.60% 0.10%
Asian 10,523 65.10% 1.90%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 728 96.20% 9.90%
Other 13,237 67.00% 3.60%
Two or more races 15,681 75.50% 4.10%
Hispanic or Latino 34,107 72.10% 2.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 288,397 63.60% 3.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Greenville County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Greenville County is 258,324, with median earnings of $40,546.00.

Women in Greenville County, South Carolina earning approximately 68.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 258,324 $40,546.00
Male 136,063 $47,786.00
Female 122,261 $32,914.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 28,570 $73,303.00
Business and Financial 14,319 $62,121.00
Computer and Mathematical 6,850 $73,397.00
Architecture and Engineering 8,891 $83,902.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,577 $54,732.00
Community and Social Service 4,490 $39,456.00
Legal 3,468 $69,068.00
Educational and Library 15,154 $42,631.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 5,031 $31,428.00
Healthcare Practitioners 17,813 $59,818.00
Healthcare Support 5,718 $22,119.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 2,018 $37,628.00
Law Enforcement 1,614 $41,338.00
Food Preparation and Serving 14,055 $15,521.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 8,704 $21,778.00
Personal Care and Service 6,332 $16,779.00
Sales 30,035 $35,797.00
Office and Administrative Support 26,973 $33,331.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 529 $23,125.00
Construction and Extraction 11,743 $31,565.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 7,150 $46,906.00
Production 20,923 $38,150.00
Transportation and Material Moving 7,766 $35,833.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 17,555 $89,663.00 11,015 $55,572.00
Business and Financial 7,284 $74,167.00 7,035 $51,427.00
Computer and Mathematical 5,168 $76,267.00 1,682 $65,380.00
Architecture and Engineering 7,650 $87,042.00 1,241 $61,028.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 932 $56,389.00 645 $53,839.00
Community and Social Service 2,026 $43,382.00 2,464 $36,975.00
Legal 1,761 $101,635.00 1,707 $58,447.00
Educational and Library 3,332 $53,103.00 11,822 $40,626.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 2,617 $34,322.00 2,414 $28,425.00
Healthcare Practitioners 4,111 $106,821.00 13,702 $56,280.00
Healthcare Support 632 $24,896.00 5,086 $22,010.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 1,465 $38,322.00 553 $26,406.00
Law Enforcement 1,013 $44,128.00 601 $40,329.00
Food Preparation and Serving 6,197 $17,584.00 7,858 $13,585.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 5,505 $25,847.00 3,199 $15,789.00
Personal Care and Service 1,646 $19,448.00 4,686 $16,207.00
Sales 15,702 $51,185.00 14,333 $20,541.00
Office and Administrative Support 5,939 $43,081.00 21,034 $31,766.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 374 $24,627.00 155 $17,083.00
Construction and Extraction 10,971 $32,147.00 772 $28,017.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 6,702 $50,436.00 448 $23,235.00
Production 13,780 $43,305.00 7,143 $29,023.00
Transportation and Material Moving 7,042 $39,660.00 724 $26,809.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 205,490 households in Greenville County, with an average household size of 2.47 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 136,060 families in Greenville County with an average family size of 3.05 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 101,063 9,527 25,470 69,430
Average Household Size 3.14 3.05 3.05 1.22
Total Families 101,063 9,527 25,470 0
Average Household Size 3.12 2.69 2.87 0

Poverty

Of the 136,060 families in Greenville County, 8.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Greenville County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 222,937 housing units in Greenville County, South Carolina.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 205,490 92.17%
Vacant 17,447 7.83%

27.60% of the total 222,937 housing units in Greenville County are rental units. This is approximately 61,537 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 140,877 are occupied by the owner - or 63.19% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Greenville County is $1,011.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Greenville County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    3,076
  • Less than $500
    4,458
  • $500 to $999
    25,675
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    23,293
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    5,884
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    1,283
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    450
  • $3,000 or more
    494

Property Value

The median value of a property in Greenville County is $212,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Greenville County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    7,818
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    12,289
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19,671
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    25,607
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    36,026
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    25,863
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    11,325
  • $1,000,000 or more
    2,278

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Greenville County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Greenville County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    8,289
  • 1940 to 1949
    6,617
  • 1950 to 1959
    16,661
  • 1960 to 1969
    22,411
  • 1970 to 1979
    30,837
  • 1980 to 1989
    28,366
  • 1990 to 1999
    38,284
  • 2000 to 2009
    40,424
  • 2010 to 2013
    29,818
  • 2014 or later
    1,230

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Greenville County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    11,469
  • 1 vehicle available
    64,420
  • 2 vehicles available
    83,476
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    46,125

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Greenville County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Greenville County that commute to work in a particular way.

23.6 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Greenville County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    4,335
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    18,880
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    33,004
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    43,397
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    44,077
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    17,965
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    32,857
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    7,327
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    6,860
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    12,787
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    5,145
  • 90 or more minutes
    4,057

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Greenville County, South Carolina in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Greenville County, South Carolina

We have data for 32 places in Greenville County, South Carolina. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.