South Carolina did it again.
For the second year in a row, the Palmetto State recorded the fastest population growth in the nation — a distinction that says as much about who’s coming as it does about what’s changing.
According to new estimates from the United States Census Bureau, South Carolina’s population jumped by nearly 80,000 people between mid-2024 and mid-2025 — a 1.5% increase that pushed the state past 5.57 million residents.
That growth rate topped every other state in the country.
And it wasn’t driven by international migration or a baby boom. It was driven by people choosing to move here.
A pandemic-era trend that hasn’t slowed
Economists say South Carolina’s surge didn’t happen overnight — and it hasn’t shown signs of easing.
“Throughout the 2020s South Carolina has consistently ranked in the top five,” said Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the University of South Carolina, in comments to Post & Courier. “What really stands out is that our growth accelerated since the onset of the (COVID-19) pandemic.”
The appeal is familiar: lower taxes, a retiree-friendly income tax structure, and housing communities designed for older residents. Together, those factors have helped fuel what experts increasingly describe as a “Gray Tsunami.”
In fact, South Carolina is projected to have more residents over 64 than under 18 within the next few years.
Growth brings energy — and pressure
The influx has powered new home construction, supported retail and restaurant growth, and diversified culinary options in many communities — yes, including New York bagels and Philly cheesesteaks.
But it has also come with real costs.
Housing supply hasn’t kept up with demand, pushing prices higher. Roads and schools need expansion. Beach parking has become more competitive. And cultural shifts have sparked tensions in fast-changing towns.
“There’s an ongoing imbalance in the housing market,” Von Nessen told Post & Courier, noting that limited inventory continues to drive prices upward.
Where the growth is happening
The growth hasn’t been evenly spread.
Population gains have been especially strong along the coast, in the Greenville-Spartanburg region, and around Rock Hill and Fort Mill — now firmly established as bedroom communities for Charlotte.
One rural standout: Jasper County. Largely driven by retirees, the county ranked as the third-fastest-growing county in the nation in 2024.
Meanwhile, many other rural counties across South Carolina are shrinking — a reminder that rapid growth and population loss are happening at the same time, often just a few counties apart.
Planning for what’s next
State planners expect the trend to continue.
Estimates from South Carolina’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office project another 800,000 residents by 2042, with sharp increases expected in Berkeley, Horry, Jasper, Lancaster, and Spartanburg counties.
That growth will demand more medical facilities, assisted-living centers, and long-term care options.
“On a state level, you will need more assisted-living facilities, more nursing home beds, more medical facilities,” Frank Rainwater, the agency’s executive director, told Post & Courier in earlier comments.
A state reshaped by choice
Nationally, population growth has slowed as international migration declined. South Carolina stands apart because its growth is almost entirely about relocation.
Who moves here matters. And for now, people keep choosing South Carolina.
The result is a state changing fast — energized, strained, and still very much in motion.
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