County profile · South Carolina
Cherokee County, SC market data
How Cherokee County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 58,275
- +3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 22,063
- Median household income
- $50,288
- +36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $142,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,680
- Highest market score
- 81
- Insurance agencies, #203 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cherokee County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cherokee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Cherokee County has an estimated 58,275 people and 22,063 households. Population estimates put the population change in Cherokee County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Cherokee County is $50,288, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 36.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Cherokee County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
Of the business types scored in Cherokee County, insurance agencies (81); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (75); and landscaping and lawn care companies (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #203 of 2,272 scored counties.
Cherokee County is part of the Gaffney area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (75% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Cherokee County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cherokee County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 81 | #203 of 2,272 | 21 | 9.5 | $2.7M | 214 | 14 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 75 | #128 of 1,771 | 11 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 148 | 12 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 73 | #175 of 1,493 | 6 | 2.7 | $4.5M | 155 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 70 | #204 of 2,176 | 17 | 7.7 | Index only | 310 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 70 | #292 of 2,063 | 11 | 5.0 | $6.1M | 164 | 3 |
| Real estate | 65 | #369 of 2,229 | 26 | 11.8 | Index only | 255 | 16 |
| Home repair trades | 62 | #484 of 2,057 | 17 | 7.7 | $3.1M | 127 | 28 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #626 of 1,886 | 16 | 7.3 | $1.3M | 131 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #636 of 2,088 | 15 | 6.8 | $731K | 110 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 58 | #572 of 1,769 | 10 | 4.5 | $1.6M | 185 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 58 | #751 of 2,385 | 60 | 27.2 | $270K | 127 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 57 | #482 of 1,302 | 5 | 2.3 | $4.1M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 57 | #767 of 2,070 | 11 | 5.0 | $10.7M | 115 | 8 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 56 | #710 of 1,889 | 16 | 7.3 | $4.2M | 101 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 56 | #884 of 2,339 | 36 | 16.3 | $450K | 105 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #588 of 1,356 | 6 | 2.7 | $2.7M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 54 | #861 of 2,090 | 14 | 6.3 | $4.8M | 94 | 34 |
| Nail salons | 53 | #587 of 1,328 | 7 | 3.2 | $2.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 53 | #734 of 1,707 | 10 | 4.5 | $5.3M | 111 | 19 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 53 | #752 of 1,656 | 13 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 89 | 9 |
| Gyms | 52 | #834 of 1,792 | 9 | 4.1 | $1.2M | 94 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #1,099 of 2,394 | 105 | 47.6 | $197K | 129 | 30 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 50 | #1,189 of 2,405 | 179 | 81.1 | $374K | 101 | 71 |
| Veterinarians | 48 | #797 of 1,485 | 9 | 4.1 | $1.7M | 64 | 4 |
| Property management | 47 | #499 of 910 | 6 | 2.7 | Index only | 86 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 47 | #1,260 of 2,200 | 32 | 14.5 | $488K | 56 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 46 | #815 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.2 | $441K | 65 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 44 | #1,466 of 2,405 | 102 | 46.2 | $656K | 99 | 34 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 41 | #908 of 1,334 | 6 | 2.7 | $1.8M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 41 | #1,018 of 1,530 | 17 | 7.7 | $1.2M | 46 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 39 | #1,126 of 1,611 | 9 | 4.1 | $768K | 77 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 38 | #1,676 of 2,358 | 48 | 21.8 | $1.4M | 57 | 40 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 37 | #1,628 of 2,222 | 36 | 16.3 | $1.9M | 61 | 34 |
| Auto repair and car care | 35 | #1,841 of 2,401 | 87 | 39.4 | $227K | 84 | 42 |
| Pet stores | 34 | #726 of 974 | 5 | 2.3 | $3.1M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,922 of 2,378 | 58 | 26.3 | $340K | 77 | 28 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 32 | #1,893 of 2,402 | 54 | 24.5 | $2.2M | 64 | 20 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 31 | #1,083 of 1,327 | 9 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 71 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,239 of 1,490 | 11 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 78 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 29 | #1,209 of 1,461 | 12 | 5.4 | $1.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 24 | #1,955 of 2,261 | 37 | 16.8 | $3.2M | 40 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 20 | #2,080 of 2,210 | 64 | 29.0 | $539K | 61 | 35 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 19 | #1,969 of 2,087 | 57 | 25.8 | $605K | 48 | 32 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.8 | $4.9M | 196 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.8 | $13.2M | 155 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $17.5M | 146 | 9 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $9.1M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $6.6M | 48 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $6.9M | 286 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $17.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $13.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $34.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
Household spending in Cherokee County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $19.7M | $894 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $65.8M | $2,981 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $66.9M | $3,034 | 75 |
| Groceries | $117.3M | $5,318 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $16.2M | $735 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.9M | $313 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11M | $497 | 51 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.6M | $935 | 73 |
| Pets | $15.6M | $708 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $34.5M | $1,564 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $56.5M | $2,561 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $52.6M | $2,384 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $27.3M | $1,236 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $287M | $13,007 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Cherokee County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 58,275+3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 22,063
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 393 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 144
- Median household income
- $50,288+36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $67,479
- Median home value
- $142,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,680
- Daytime population
- 47,816Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Cherokee County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Cherokee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in South Carolina 8
- Spartanburg County, SC347,852 people
- Union County, SC26,885 people
- York County, SC293,673 people
- Chester County, SC32,182 people
- Greenville County, SC548,166 people
- Laurens County, SC68,666 people
- Lancaster County, SC104,475 people
- Newberry County, SC38,435 people
Questions
How fast is Cherokee County, SC growing?
Population estimates put Cherokee County at 58,275 people in 2025, up 3.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 22,063 households. Median household income rose 36.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Cherokee County, SC spend?
Households in Cherokee County spend about $287M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $117.3M on groceries and $66.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Cherokee County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Cherokee County, SC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cherokee County are for insurance agencies (81); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (75); and landscaping and lawn care companies (73). Cherokee County ranks #203 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does Cherokee County, SC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Cherokee County is $50,288 a year, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $142,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Cherokee County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (75% 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. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in Cherokee County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Cherokee County. 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.
All markets in South Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Cherokee County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Cherokee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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.