County profile · South Carolina
Fairfield County, SC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Fairfield County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 20,340
- −2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 8,930
- Median household income
- $47,885
- +25.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $151,200
- Jobs located here
- 6,065
- Highest market score
- 76
- Insurance agencies, #303 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Fairfield County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Fairfield 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
An estimated 20,340 people live in Fairfield County, in 8,930 households. Population estimates put the population change in Fairfield County from 2020 to 2025 at −2.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Fairfield County is $47,885 a year, 41% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Fairfield County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Fairfield County are for insurance agencies (76), auto repair and car care businesses (65) and home repair companies (62). Fairfield County ranks #303 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Fairfield County is part of the Columbia metro area. For its number of households, Fairfield County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (68% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Fairfield County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Fairfield 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 | 76 | #303 of 2,272 | 6 | 6.7 | $3.9M | 311 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 65 | #522 of 2,401 | 22 | 24.6 | $374K | 139 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 62 | #472 of 2,057 | 5 | 5.6 | $4.3M | 178 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 61 | #703 of 2,405 | 46 | 51.5 | $606K | 163 | 19 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 60 | #730 of 2,394 | 24 | 26.9 | $357K | 234 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #799 of 2,405 | 27 | 30.2 | $1M | 156 | 9 |
| Real estate | 56 | #756 of 2,229 | 12 | 13.4 | Index only | 227 | 4 |
| Pizza | 54 | #854 of 2,090 | 5 | 5.6 | $5.6M | 110 | 9 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #1,038 of 2,339 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.1M | 260 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #1,144 of 2,385 | 14 | 15.7 | $479K | 225 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 47 | #1,192 of 2,176 | 9 | 10.1 | Index only | 240 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 47 | #1,225 of 2,210 | 8 | 9.0 | $1.8M | 205 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 47 | #1,317 of 2,378 | 15 | 16.8 | $548K | 123 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 46 | #1,172 of 2,087 | 6 | 6.7 | $2.4M | 189 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 46 | #1,304 of 2,222 | 10 | 11.2 | $2.8M | 91 | 9 |
| Pet businesses | 42 | #1,421 of 2,200 | 8 | 9.0 | $819K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 31 | #1,204 of 1,472 | 8 | 9.0 | $196K | 29 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 31 | #1,313 of 1,611 | 5 | 5.6 | $593K | 59 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 24 | #2,141 of 2,358 | 22 | 24.6 | $1.2M | 52 | 17 |
| Grocery stores | 15 | #1,953 of 2,070 | 9 | 10.1 | $5.3M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 11 | #2,351 of 2,402 | 32 | 35.8 | $1.5M | 44 | 9 |
| Convenience stores | 7 | #2,230 of 2,261 | 20 | 22.4 | $2.4M | 30 | 7 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $1.7M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.1M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 169 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $9.3M | 251 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.9M | 290 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $7.2M | 152 | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $3.8M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.2M | 134 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.7M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.2M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $13.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $4.3M | Too few | 5 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $21.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $4.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $4.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $11.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $6.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $21.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Fairfield 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 | $8.2M | $921 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $27.2M | $3,050 | 117 |
| Food away from home | $27.9M | $3,122 | 77 |
| Groceries | $48M | $5,374 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.7M | $751 | 75 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $332 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.7M | $532 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.6M | $959 | 74 |
| Pets | $6.6M | $734 | 81 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14.4M | $1,613 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $23.4M | $2,622 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $21.6M | $2,424 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $11.3M | $1,268 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $117.8M | $13,193 | 79 |
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 Fairfield County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 20,340−2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 8,930
- Median age
- 47.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 686 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 30
- Median household income
- $47,885+25.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $72,061
- Median home value
- $151,200
- Jobs located here
- 6,065
- Daytime population
- 16,748Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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
- Richland County, SC422,117 people
- Chester County, SC32,182 people
- Kershaw County, SC68,314 people
- Lexington County, SC304,887 people
- Newberry County, SC38,435 people
- Lancaster County, SC104,475 people
- Union County, SC26,885 people
- York County, SC293,673 people
Questions
How fast is Fairfield County, SC growing?
Population estimates put Fairfield County at 20,340 people in 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 8,930 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in Fairfield County, SC spend?
Households in Fairfield County spend about $117.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $48M on groceries and $27.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Fairfield County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Fairfield County, SC?
Of the business types scored in Fairfield County, insurance agencies (76), auto repair and car care businesses (65) and home repair companies (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #303 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Fairfield County, SC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Fairfield County is $47,885, 41% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $151,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (68% 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. 22 of the 56 business types have a score in Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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.