You’ve probably heard the rumors. People are flocking to South Carolina like there's a gold rush, but it's not gold they're after—it's the marsh views, the sweet tea, and maybe a slightly lower tax bill. If you look at towns in South Carolina by population, you’ll see a state that is fundamentally rewriting its own map.
It’s changing fast.
Some folks think South Carolina is just a collection of sleepy porch-swing towns, but the data tells a much rowdier story. We aren't just talking about a few retirees moving to the beach. We are talking about massive, industrial-strength shifts in where people live, work, and get stuck in traffic.
The Big Three: Charleston, Columbia, and the North Charleston Surge
For a long time, Columbia was the undisputed heavyweight. It's the capital. It has the University of South Carolina. It’s central. But recently, the coast has staged a bit of a coup.
Charleston is now the largest city in the state, with a population pushing past 160,000 in 2026. If you've tried to park near King Street lately, you already knew this. It’s a gorgeous, historic juggernaut that feels more like a European capital than a Southern port some days. But here is the thing: Charleston proper is actually physically constrained by water. It can only grow so much before it hits the Atlantic or the Ashley River.
That’s why North Charleston is the real story.
North Charleston has exploded to over 131,000 residents. It’s not just "the place near the airport" anymore. With Boeing, the port expansion, and a revitalized Park Circle area, it has its own gravity. Honestly, the distinction between Charleston and North Charleston is starting to feel purely academic to anyone living there. It’s one giant, breathing metro area.
Then there is Columbia. Soda City.
It sits comfortably at number two with roughly 149,000 people. While the coast gets the glitz, Columbia has a stability the rest of the state envies. Government jobs and the university provide a floor that doesn't drop out during economic hiccups. It’s gritty, it’s hot as a furnace in August, but it’s growing steadily.
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The Mount Pleasant "Town" That Outgrew Most Cities
Let’s talk about Mount Pleasant. It’s officially a "town," but that label is getting a bit ridiculous.
With a population nearing 95,000, Mount Pleasant is larger than almost every "city" in the state, including Greenville and Rock Hill. It is the fourth-largest municipality in South Carolina. Calling it a town feels like calling a Great Dane a "lap dog." It’s technically true, but it doesn't fit the reality.
What’s driving it? Basically, it’s the ultimate suburb. People want the Charleston lifestyle without living on the actual peninsula. You have high-end shopping at Towne Centre, the Shem Creek vibe, and some of the best schools in the state.
But growth has a price. Ask anyone who lives there about the Ravenel Bridge commute at 8:15 AM.
Why the Upstate is the State's Real Engine
If the Lowcountry is the "pretty face" of the state, the Upstate is the muscle.
Greenville often surprises people. If you just look at the city limits, it looks small—only about 75,000 people. But that is a total lie. The way South Carolina handles annexation is weird. Greenville’s city limits are tiny, but the metropolitan area is a monster.
Greenville County is the most populous county in the state, with over 570,000 people.
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- Rock Hill: At 78,000 residents, it's the fifth-largest city, essentially acting as a massive bedroom community for Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Greer: This place is a rocket ship. It’s gained thousands of residents thanks to the BMW plant and the Inland Port.
- Spartanburg: Often overlooked, but it’s seeing a massive downtown "cool factor" resurgence.
The Upstate is where the manufacturing lives. It’s where the international investment goes. It feels different than the rest of the state—more industrious, a bit faster-paced, and decidedly less "beachy."
The "Boom Towns" Nobody Saw Coming
While everyone watches Charleston and Greenville, some smaller spots are pulling off incredible growth percentages.
Bluffton is the poster child for this. Located right next to Hilton Head, Bluffton was a tiny "state of mind" village for decades. Now? It has over 35,000 people. It’s one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the entire South, not just the state. It’s become the primary residence for the people who work in the Hilton Head tourism industry and the retirees who want to be near the water but not on the island.
Then there’s Fort Mill.
Basically a suburb of Charlotte, it has nearly 35,000 people now. The schools are so popular that the town can barely build them fast enough. It’s a classic example of "spillover growth." When Charlotte gets too expensive, people cross the border to York County, SC.
Small Towns by the Numbers
| Town/City | Approx. 2026 Population | Why it's Growing |
|---|---|---|
| Summerville | 55,000+ | Affordable(ish) Lowcountry living. |
| Goose Creek | 48,000+ | Military families and industrial growth. |
| Sumter | 43,000+ | Shaw Air Force Base stability. |
| Hardeeville | 10,000+ | Massive 14%+ annual growth rate. |
Hardeeville is a wild one. It used to be a place you just drove through on I-95 to get to Georgia. Now, with massive new developments like Latitude Margaritaville, it’s becoming a destination for retirees. It’s growing faster by percentage than almost anywhere else in the state.
The Rural Reality: Not Everywhere is Growing
It's easy to look at towns in South Carolina by population and assume the whole state is booming. That’s a mistake.
While the I-85 corridor (Upstate) and the coast (Lowcountry) are on fire, the "Pee Dee" and the rural "Black Belt" are struggling. Counties like Allendale, Bamberg, and Marlboro have seen population declines.
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Young people are leaving rural areas for the jobs in North Charleston or Greenville. It’s a tale of two South Carolinas. You have the "New South" of tech, aerospace, and luxury condos, and the "Old South" of agriculture and textile mill towns that haven't quite found their second act yet.
Aiken is an interesting middle ground. With about 33,000 people, it stays steady. It has the "horse country" money and the Savannah River Site jobs, which keeps it insulated from the extreme booms and busts of other areas.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking at these population numbers because you're planning a move or a business investment, the trend is clear: Density is shifting.
Infrastructure is the biggest hurdle. South Carolina's roads weren't built for this many people. Whether it's the "Malfunction Junction" in Columbia or the gridlock in Mount Pleasant, the state is playing catch-up.
When you look at towns in South Carolina by population, don't just look at the rank. Look at the momentum. A town like Greer or Bluffton might be smaller than Sumter today, but their trajectory is much steeper.
Actionable Insights for Navigating SC Growth:
- Check County vs. City: In SC, the "city" population is often much lower than the actual number of people living in that area because of unincorporated land. Always check the county population for a truer sense of scale.
- Commute Reality: If a town is growing at 3% or more per year (like Horry or Berkeley counties), expect significant school rezoning and traffic delays.
- Look at the "In-Between": Spots like Moncks Corner or Lugoff are the next frontier. They are just outside the major hubs and are currently where the "affordable" housing is moving.
- Factor in the "Tourism Fluctuation": Places like Myrtle Beach have a permanent population of around 40,000, but in the summer, they function like a city of hundreds of thousands. The infrastructure reflects the peak, not the baseline.
The Palmetto State isn't the quiet secret it used to be. The secret is out, and the numbers prove it. Whether you're in the mountains of the Upstate or the sands of the Lowcountry, you're likely going to have a few more neighbors next year than you do today.