Population 1,469 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Folly Beach
Household size in Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.95 | 2.61 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.14 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.22 | −0.10 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Folly Beach is a place of small households, averaging 2.17 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 1.95 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 36.2 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.7 | 37.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.6 | 38.5 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.8 | 39.2 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +13.8 | +3.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 55.8, Folly Beach is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 12.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 12.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 10.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Folly Beach: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% 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 Folly Beach
Renters in Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.0% | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 35.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.4% | 33.8% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 30.9% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −40.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Folly Beach is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7% | 13.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.5% | 11.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 49.0% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.3% | 9.9% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +21.6 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Folly Beach: 62.3% of homes are empty, 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.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1986 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1989 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1995 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +16 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Folly Beach has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. Locally, though, homes here are older than in the Charleston area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1995.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,311 | $1,002 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,170 | $1,088 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,261 | $1,260 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,807 | $1,767 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$765 | +$514 | +$606 |
Rent in Folly Beach runs $1,807 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. The picture is much the same across the Charleston area. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Folly Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.3% | 30.2% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 60.3% | 32.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.6% | 35.9% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.3% | 41.2% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +11.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Folly Beach is highly educated: nearly two-thirds of adults 25 and older (64.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.0% | 87.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.8% | 89.1% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 90.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 92.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +4.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Folly Beach: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Folly Beach
| Period | Folly Beach | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.8% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.0% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −4.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Folly Beach has been low: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Folly Beach compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folly Beach | 2.17 | 55.8 | 7.1% | 8.3% | 62.3% | 1990 | $1,807 | 64.3% | 96.8% | 1.9% |
| Kiawah Island | 1.92 | 66.9 | 4.7% | 1.1% | 61.7% | 1994 | $1,568 | 87.1% | 99.0% | 2.0% |
| Johns Island | 2.44 | 41.7 | 6.5% | 15.4% | 11.8% | 2009 | $1,581 | 54.9% | 94.4% | 1.9% |
| Legareville | 2.55 | 58.7 | 4.3% | 17.2% | 20.6% | 2005 | $931 | 55.2% | 99.0% | 0.1% |
| Charleston area | 2.51 | 39.2 | 10.1% | 30.9% | 9.9% | 1995 | $1,767 | 41.2% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Sullivans Island | 2.54 | 52.8 | 6.4% | 14.0% | 21.0% | 1981 | $2,390 | 81.6% | 99.8% | 1.5% |
| Fenwick Hills | 3.00 | 38.0 | 13.8% | 15.7% | 11.3% | 2008 | $1,914 | 42.3% | 92.8% | 1.8% |
| Wadmalaw Island | 2.50 | 53.3 | 6.3% | 6.3% | 21.4% | 1991 | $1,389 | 47.0% | 93.1% | 1.7% |
| Seabrook Island | 1.77 | 69.0 | 0.9% | 4.1% | 47.1% | 1992 | $3,493 | 77.8% | 99.5% | 0.0% |
| Rockville | 2.79 | 39.4 | 13.8% | 10.1% | 26.3% | 1989 | $1,378 | 57.8% | 94.0% | 2.4% |
| Yonges Island | 2.78 | 39.9 | 13.5% | 10.5% | 25.3% | 1989 | $1,390 | 55.2% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Woodway, VA · Polk, OH · Allenton, WI · Sigourney, IA · Stonewood, WV · Thompsontown, PA · Farley, IA · Vernon, VT · Elmwood Place, OH · East Brookfield, MA
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 Folly Beach. 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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