County profile · South Carolina
Saluda County, SC market data
How Saluda County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 19,680
- +4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,670
- Median household income
- $51,009
- +11.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $146,500
- Jobs located here
- 5,321
- Highest market score
- 88
- Gas stations, #45 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Saluda County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Saluda 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
Saluda County has an estimated 19,680 people and 7,670 households. Population estimates show Saluda County grew 4.1% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Saluda County is $51,009, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 11.6%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Saluda County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Of the business types scored in Saluda County, gas stations (88), insurance agencies (88) and real estate businesses (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #45 of 2,358 scored counties.
Saluda County is part of the Columbia metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery and convenience stores (12% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (75% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Saluda County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Saluda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 88 | #45 of 2,358 | 5 | 6.5 | $5.2M | 217 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 88 | #85 of 2,272 | 8 | 10.4 | $2.8M | 222 | 4 |
| Real estate | 77 | #65 of 2,229 | 6 | 7.8 | Index only | 396 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 74 | #241 of 2,222 | 5 | 6.5 | $4.9M | 160 | 7 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 73 | #248 of 2,394 | 16 | 20.9 | $467K | 306 | 8 |
| Auto repair and car care | 71 | #342 of 2,401 | 24 | 31.3 | $324K | 121 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 71 | #368 of 2,405 | 47 | 61.3 | $518K | 140 | 14 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 69 | #235 of 2,176 | 6 | 7.8 | Index only | 314 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 69 | #393 of 2,210 | 5 | 6.5 | $2.5M | 283 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 66 | #504 of 2,378 | 16 | 20.9 | $486K | 109 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #448 of 2,385 | 14 | 18.3 | $419K | 197 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 64 | #480 of 2,339 | 9 | 11.7 | $652K | 152 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 62 | #678 of 2,405 | 31 | 40.4 | $785K | 118 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #661 of 2,200 | 7 | 9.1 | $819K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #625 of 2,088 | 5 | 6.5 | $822K | 124 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 57 | #762 of 2,090 | 6 | 7.8 | $4.1M | 80 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 55 | #757 of 1,886 | 6 | 7.8 | $1.2M | 127 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 53 | #755 of 1,656 | 5 | 6.5 | $1.5M | 84 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 50 | #1,124 of 2,261 | 7 | 9.1 | $6M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 48 | #1,292 of 2,402 | 16 | 20.9 | $2.6M | 77 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 46 | #1,154 of 2,070 | 6 | 7.8 | $7M | 75 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 42 | #1,215 of 1,889 | 6 | 7.8 | $4.1M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $3.1M | 245 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $328K | 48 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.2 | $2.5M | 147 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $843K | 84 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $6.4M | 263 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $1.4M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.9 | $2.6M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $12.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $9.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $9.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $9.9M | Too few | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $19.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $5.9M | 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 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 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 |
| Property management | 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 Saluda 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 | $7.8M | $1,014 | 106 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $25.9M | $3,377 | 130 |
| Food away from home | $24.3M | $3,174 | 78 |
| Groceries | $41.8M | $5,448 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.9M | $765 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.5M | $330 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.1M | $536 | 55 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.5M | $975 | 76 |
| Pets | $5.7M | $748 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.5M | $1,626 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $22.3M | $2,905 | 148 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.2M | $2,497 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.9M | $1,286 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $102.8M | $13,407 | 80 |
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 Saluda County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 19,680+4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,670
- Median age
- 44.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 79%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 453 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 42
- Median household income
- $51,009+11.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $73,200
- Median home value
- $146,500
- Jobs located here
- 5,321
- Daytime population
- 16,117Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Saluda 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 Saluda 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
- Newberry County, SC38,435 people
- Edgefield County, SC27,476 people
- Lexington County, SC304,887 people
- Greenwood County, SC69,489 people
- Aiken County, SC174,160 people
- McCormick County, SC9,760 people
- Laurens County, SC68,666 people
- Richland County, SC422,117 people
Questions
How fast is Saluda County, SC growing?
Population estimates put Saluda County at 19,680 people in 2025, up 4.1% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 7,670 households. Median household income rose 11.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Saluda County, SC spend?
Households in Saluda County spend about $102.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $41.8M on groceries and $25.9M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Saluda County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 148, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Saluda County, SC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Saluda County are for gas stations (88), insurance agencies (88) and real estate businesses (77). Saluda County ranks #45 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
How does Saluda County, SC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Saluda County is $51,009 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $146,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Saluda County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery and convenience stores (12% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (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. 22 of the 56 business types have a score in Saluda 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 Saluda 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 Saluda 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 Saluda 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.