Population 2,308 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ruby
Household size in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.85 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.36 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
The average household in Ruby has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. South Carolina as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.85, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.3 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Ruby is 37.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Ruby: 14.7% of all 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 Ruby
Renters in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +11.1 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Ruby own their homes; 27.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. The picture is much the same across South Carolina. Among homeowners, 62.3% have no mortgage at all, well 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Ruby: 16.6% 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Ruby is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in South Carolina as a whole, where the median home dates to 1991.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $536 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $639 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $585 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $782 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$246 | +$514 | +$606 |
Rent in Ruby runs $782 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 17.8% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 Ruby
Bachelor's degrees in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ruby: 12.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.8% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.9% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.8% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.2% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Ruby never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ruby runs well above the national rate: 7.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 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).
Ruby 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | 2.50 | 37.6 | 14.7% | 27.3% | 16.6% | 1987 | $782 | 12.3% | 81.2% | 7.6% |
| Mount Croghan | 2.48 | 41.1 | 7.6% | 27.1% | 10.6% | 1988 | $766 | 12.7% | 74.5% | 4.8% |
| Chesterfield | 2.40 | 47.2 | 17.9% | 22.1% | 14.2% | 1982 | $859 | 18.2% | 83.1% | 3.5% |
| Jefferson | 2.73 | 38.4 | 11.9% | 20.1% | 11.2% | 1989 | $817 | 13.9% | 79.7% | 7.9% |
| Deep Creek | 2.23 | 47.3 | 19.9% | 21.3% | 19.9% | 1981 | $796 | 8.3% | 76.0% | 1.8% |
| Pageland | 2.52 | 39.0 | 16.6% | 35.0% | 15.5% | 1987 | $788 | 9.6% | 78.3% | 5.8% |
| Morven | 2.90 | 34.1 | 18.3% | 29.4% | 16.7% | 1978 | $708 | 7.0% | 78.6% | 3.0% |
| Windsor Park | 2.10 | 52.5 | 16.1% | 33.4% | 20.6% | 1981 | $664 | 9.4% | 77.0% | 11.5% |
| McFarlan | 2.21 | 42.6 | 8.8% | 29.5% | 18.5% | 1983 | $944 | 7.2% | 75.3% | 7.3% |
| Cheraw | 2.43 | 45.2 | 17.9% | 31.0% | 17.8% | 1980 | $843 | 17.1% | 86.3% | 9.8% |
| Montrose | 2.32 | 50.8 | 9.1% | 21.4% | 13.5% | 1988 | $651 | 22.2% | 91.9% | 7.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Orangeville, MI · Rolling Fork, MS · Rockholds, KY · Rapidan, VA · Questa, NM · Powhatan Point, OH · Porter Springs, GA · Plumerville, AR · Parchment, MI · Osceola, MO
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 Ruby. 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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