Population 157,841 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Summerville
Household size in Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.80 | 2.61 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.80 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.73 | 2.51 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.10 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Summerville average 2.73 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the Charleston area overall, where it has 2.51 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.80, mirroring the country. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 have larger 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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 36.2 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.6 | 37.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.4 | 38.5 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 39.2 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +3.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Summerville is 37.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the center.
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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 12.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 12.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 10.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.4% | 10.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in seven households in Summerville (13.4%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Summerville
Renters in Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 35.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 33.8% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 30.9% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.2% of households in Summerville rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 29.7% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is down 4.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 13.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 11.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 9.9% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Summerville: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Summerville has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of South Carolina cities.
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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1991 | 1986 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1989 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1995 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Summerville is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2002, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1991 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center. Only 16 of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $984 | $1,002 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,080 | $1,088 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,131 | $1,260 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,703 | $1,767 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$719 | +$765 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Summerville costs $1,703 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $719 a month from 2006–10, a 73% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have higher rents.
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 Summerville
Bachelor's degrees in Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 30.2% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 32.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.5% | 35.9% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 41.2% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | +11.0 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Summerville (32.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Charleston area overall (41.2%). The share with a degree is up 10.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.4% | 87.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 89.1% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 90.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 92.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +4.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Summerville is above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Charleston area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points, 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 Summerville
| Period | Summerville | Charleston area | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.8% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −4.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Summerville is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Charleston area (3.6%). Unemployment is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Summerville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville | 2.73 | 37.4 | 13.4% | 22.2% | 6.9% | 2002 | $1,703 | 32.9% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Lincolnville | 2.60 | 32.7 | 20.2% | 21.7% | 7.9% | 2003 | $848 | 26.9% | 89.0% | 2.1% |
| Ladson | 2.71 | 33.6 | 13.0% | 33.1% | 7.3% | 2002 | $1,781 | 25.9% | 92.6% | 5.2% |
| Dorchester Estates | 2.86 | 30.2 | 8.0% | 16.8% | 3.7% | 2008 | $2,017 | 29.9% | 81.6% | 7.9% |
| Slandsville | 2.74 | 42.2 | 4.0% | 8.8% | 8.3% | 2006 | $1,475 | 30.7% | 96.8% | 0.3% |
| Jedburg | 2.82 | 39.0 | 12.3% | 14.8% | 15.8% | 2000 | $1,604 | 12.7% | 82.2% | 0.9% |
| Givhans | 2.89 | 42.0 | 7.1% | 11.4% | 8.0% | 2000 | $1,537 | 22.4% | 91.1% | 0.7% |
| Goose Creek | 2.60 | 36.7 | 11.4% | 30.4% | 5.8% | 1995 | $1,686 | 27.6% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
| Long Ridge | 3.05 | 34.8 | 12.3% | 11.1% | 6.3% | 2015 | $2,244 | 44.9% | 94.2% | 3.6% |
| Ridgeville | 2.49 | 41.3 | 9.7% | 14.7% | 11.6% | 1997 | $1,249 | 13.7% | 80.8% | 1.0% |
| Strawberry | 3.01 | 37.4 | 5.1% | 12.8% | 8.2% | 2013 | $2,224 | 36.8% | 98.5% | 0.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fort Mill, SC · Florence, SC · Folsom, CA · Covina, CA · Conyers, GA · Columbus, GA · Columbus, OH · Clovis, CA · Citrus Heights, CA · Clarksville, TN
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 Summerville. 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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