State profile · 56 business types

South Carolina market data

Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types across South Carolina, with each type’s rank among the 50 states and DC.

Population, 2025: 5,570,274; +8.5% since 2020
Households: 2,117,989
Median household income: $69,324; +30.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value: $259,000
Jobs located here: 2,213,452

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in South Carolina by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

An estimated 5,570,274 people live in South Carolina, in 2,117,989 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of South Carolina grew 8.5%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in South Carolina is $69,324 a year, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 30.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

Set against the U.S., households in South Carolina spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (71).

Among the 50 states and DC, South Carolina ranks highest for electricians (#3), insurance agencies (#4) and coffee shops and cafes (#4) by the Groundwork market score.

For its number of households, South Carolina has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (57% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for child care centers and preschools (26% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in South Carolina

Listings per 10,000 households, and the same as an index where 100 is the U.S. rate. Spending per listing is a year of household spending on the type’s whole line over its listings (for the real estate types, an index of housing costs per listing, where 100 is the U.S.). The rank puts the state’s Groundwork market score against the other 50 states and DC.

Every business type in South Carolina: listings, listings per 10,000 households against the U.S., spending per listing, official establishments, market score and rank among states
Business type	Listings	Per 10k households	Vs. U.S. (100)	Spending per listing	Official establishments	Score	Rank among states
Food and drink
Restaurants and cafes	21,961	103.7	94	$353K	9,731	45	#33 of 51
Sit-down restaurants	12,688	59.9	98	$611K	4,583	39	#38 of 51
Fast food and sandwich shops	3,144	14.8	111	$2.5M	4,227	39	#37 of 51
Pizza	1,608	7.6	95	$4.8M	4,227	49	#26 of 51
Coffee shops and cafes	1,778	8.4	76	$4.4M	811	75	#4 of 51
Bakeries and dessert shops	1,697	8.0	82	$4.6M	876	67	#9 of 51
Groceries and convenience
Grocery and convenience stores	4,556	21.5	115	$2.7M	1,592	40	#37 of 51
Grocery stores	1,431	6.8	100	$8.7M	911	49	#28 of 51
Convenience stores	2,367	11.2	140	$5.3M	681	36	#44 of 51
Auto
Auto repair and car care	7,515	35.5	99	$256K	2,788	56	#20 of 51
Auto repair shops	4,411	20.8	97	$435K	1,824	60	#16 of 51
Collision repair and body shops	630	3.0	97	$3M	491	59	#17 of 51
Car washes and detailing	850	4.0	105	$2.3M	288	54	#22 of 51
Tire shops	1,006	4.7	124	$1.9M	385	40	#36 of 51
Oil change and quick lube	183	0.9	129	$10.5M	161	40	#38 of 50
Gas stations	2,924	13.8	127	$2.1M	2,495	56	#21 of 51
Insurance agencies	2,949	13.9	89	$1.8M	2,042	81	#4 of 51
Beauty and personal care
Salons, barbers and spas	10,522	49.7	105	$175K	1,926	42	#40 of 51
Hair salons	5,412	25.6	109	$341K	1,052	42	#38 of 51
Barbershops	1,252	5.9	111	$1.5M	98	40	#40 of 51
Nail salons	1,319	6.2	103	$1.4M	314	42	#37 of 51
Spas and skin care	2,344	11.1	97	$787K	419	45	#33 of 51
Fitness and classes
Gyms, studios and classes	2,808	13.3	89	$528K	967	49	#27 of 51
Gyms	1,503	7.1	93	$986K	574	47	#27 of 51
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios	400	1.9	79	$3.7M	574	51	#27 of 51
Martial arts and dance studios	905	4.3	88	$1.6M	393	49	#30 of 51
Health care
Doctors, dentists and clinics	16,473	77.8	92	$140K	6,229	49	#25 of 51
Dentists and orthodontists	2,418	11.4	87	$951K	1,758	49	#23 of 51
Primary care and pediatrics	1,417	6.7	93	$1.6M	2,639	53	#23 of 51
Urgent care and walk-in clinics	99	0.5	100	$23.2M	185	40	#35 of 50
Chiropractors	1,200	5.7	106	$1.9M	631	45	#30 of 51
Physical therapy	1,051	5.0	93	$2.2M	732	60	#17 of 51
Optometrists and eye care	774	3.7	90	$3M	284	57	#17 of 51
Pets
Pet businesses	2,375	11.2	108	$775K	1,120	58	#18 of 51
Veterinarians	754	3.6	109	$2.4M	525	62	#16 of 51
Pet grooming and boarding	865	4.1	114	$2.1M	437	51	#25 of 51
Pet stores	417	2.0	100	$4.4M	158	59	#16 of 51
Child care
Child care and preschools	911	4.3	74	$1M	1,042	72	#6 of 51
Clothing and laundry
Clothing, shoes and laundry	4,864	23.0	99	$801K	2,264	40	#39 of 51
Clothing and shoe stores	3,673	17.3	107	$1.1M	1,938	34	#43 of 51
Laundromats	247	1.2	75	$15.8M	104	68	#8 of 51
Dry cleaners	261	1.2	92	$14.9M	222	42	#33 of 51
Home services
Home repair trades	2,590	12.2	98	$2.3M	3,000	67	#6 of 51
HVAC and plumbing	1,419	6.7	106	$4.2M	1,685	56	#20 of 51
Electricians	439	2.1	84	$13.5M	1,015	78	#3 of 51
Roofing and gutters	732	3.5	97	$8.1M	300	66	#12 of 51
Lawn, cleaning and pest control	2,135	10.1	120	$1.4M	3,516	56	#25 of 51
Landscaping and lawn care	1,178	5.6	117	$2.6M	1,910	61	#19 of 51
House cleaning	501	2.4	109	$6.1M	1,199	58	#15 of 51
Pest control	456	2.2	157	$6.7M	407	36	#40 of 51
Real estate
Real estate	9,045	42.7	111	80 (index)	5,839	35	#45 of 51
Real estate agents and brokers	7,115	33.6	110	81 (index)	3,337	35	#45 of 51
Property management	765	3.6	120	74 (index)	1,047	44	#34 of 51
Mortgage brokers and lenders	1,031	4.9	114	78 (index)	461	38	#41 of 51
Home inspectors	134	0.6	100	89 (index)	113	48	#30 of 50
Funeral services
Funeral homes	591	2.8	133	$509K	274	55	#23 of 51

Markets in South Carolina

Each market’s page covers every business type, with its figures against the state and the U.S.

Questions

How fast is South Carolina growing?

Population estimates put South Carolina at 5,570,274 people in 2025, up 8.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 2,117,989 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 30.3%, before inflation.

How much do households in South Carolina spend?

Households in South Carolina spend about $31.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $12.5B on groceries and $7.8B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in South Carolina runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (71).

Which business types rank highest in South Carolina?

By the Groundwork market score, South Carolina’s highest ranks among the 50 states and DC are for electricians (#3), insurance agencies (#4) and coffee shops and cafes (#4).

How does South Carolina compare with the U.S.?

Median household income in South Carolina is $69,324, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 8.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $259,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (57% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for child care centers and preschools (26% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Each business type is scored on its own, so a state can rank high for one type and low for another.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in South Carolina. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.