Population 20,550 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fairfield County
Household size in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.46 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.05 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Fairfield County is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.58, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of South Carolina's 46 counties have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 37.1 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.8 | 37.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.9 | 38.6 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.0 | 39.4 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.6 | +2.3 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Fairfield County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.4, in line with the national trend. Only three of South Carolina's 46 counties are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 13.2% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 13.4% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 12.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 12.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Fairfield County (12.6%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Columbia area. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fairfield County
Renters in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 31.2% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 32.8% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 32.1% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 30.6% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Fairfield County own their homes; 25.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 59.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 10.7% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 12.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 11.8% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 10.3% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.7% of the housing in Fairfield County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1984 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1990 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Fairfield County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Still, homes here are older than in the Columbia area overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $608 | $831 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $687 | $908 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $810 | $1,021 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,092 | $1,285 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$484 | +$453 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fairfield County costs $1,092 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $484 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fairfield County
Bachelor's degrees in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 31.5% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 31.8% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 34.1% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 35.9% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +4.4 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Fairfield County: 15.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged down 1.3 points, even as the national share rose.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.0% | 88.1% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.5% | 88.7% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.1% | 90.2% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.1% | 91.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Fairfield County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fairfield County
| Period | Fairfield County | Columbia area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Fairfield County: 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fairfield County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | 2.24 | 48.0 | 12.6% | 25.4% | 16.7% | 1985 | $1,092 | 15.3% | 85.1% | 6.7% |
| Kershaw County | 2.55 | 42.2 | 11.0% | 18.0% | 10.4% | 1991 | $1,045 | 24.6% | 89.3% | 4.8% |
| Newberry County | 2.47 | 41.5 | 13.8% | 26.9% | 17.1% | 1978 | $912 | 22.8% | 84.9% | 5.2% |
| Darlington County | 2.43 | 41.5 | 15.9% | 29.1% | 13.8% | 1983 | $946 | 20.4% | 87.2% | 6.3% |
| Greenwood County | 2.44 | 39.9 | 14.2% | 33.0% | 12.3% | 1976 | $941 | 24.3% | 88.7% | 5.9% |
| Abbeville County | 2.46 | 43.6 | 11.0% | 21.9% | 16.7% | 1980 | $826 | 19.8% | 88.1% | 3.5% |
| Dillon County | 2.61 | 39.6 | 20.2% | 35.3% | 16.2% | 1984 | $714 | 13.9% | 81.5% | 9.2% |
| Hart County | 2.45 | 43.8 | 10.1% | 22.2% | 15.4% | 1987 | $918 | 20.6% | 85.3% | 3.6% |
| Franklin County | 2.70 | 39.8 | 12.5% | 22.8% | 17.0% | 1988 | $833 | 18.4% | 83.2% | 5.4% |
| Columbus County | 2.47 | 43.1 | 11.4% | 28.9% | 14.9% | 1981 | $846 | 15.1% | 86.7% | 4.7% |
| Banks County | 2.82 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 21.3% | 8.6% | 1994 | $915 | 19.0% | 83.4% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Colfax County, NM · Simpson County, MS · Shelby County, TX · Shelby County, IL · Seward County, KS · Fayette County, TX · Fannin County, GA · Colusa County, CA · Columbia County, AR · Somerset County, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fairfield County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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