Dorchester County, SC

County

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2022 Population

162,139

1.22% 1-year growth

US Senator

Lindsey Graham

Republican Party

US Senator

Tim Scott

Republican Party

2022 Median Age

37.7

0.265% 1-year decrease

2022 Poverty Rate

12.3%

2.95% 1-year increase

2022 Median Household Income

$73,686

8.29% 1-year growth

2022 Median Property Value

$273,000

19.4% 1-year growth

About

In 2022, Dorchester County, SC had a population of 162k people with a median age of 37.7 and a median household income of $73,686. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Dorchester County, SC grew from 160,180 to 162,139, a 1.22% increase and its median household income grew from $68,046 to $73,686, a 8.29% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Dorchester County, SC are White (Non-Hispanic) (62.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (25%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.46%), White (Hispanic) (2.04%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.98%).

None of the households in Dorchester County, SC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.1% of the residents in Dorchester County, SC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Dorchester County, SC are Charleston Cosmetology Institute (96 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2022, the median property value in Dorchester County, SC was $273,000, and the homeownership rate was 74.8%.

Most people in Dorchester County, SC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 31 minutes. The average car ownership in Dorchester County, SC was 2 cars per household.

Dorchester County, SC borders Berkeley County, SC, Charleston County, SC, Colleton County, SC, and Orangeburg County, SC.

United States South Carolina Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Population & Diversity

Dorchester County, SC is home to a population of 162k people, from which 97.1% are citizens. As of 2022, 5.42% of Dorchester County, SC residents were born outside of the country (8.79k people).

In 2022, there were 2.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (101k people) in Dorchester County, SC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 40.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 5.6k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Citizenship

97.1%

2022 Citizenship

96.6%

2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 97.1% of Dorchester County, SC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Dorchester County, SC was 96.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Dorchester County, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Dorchester County, SC

White (Non-Hispanic)
101k ± 603
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
40.5k ± 792
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
5.6k ± 1.01k

6.11%

Hispanic Population

9.91k people

6.11% of the people in Dorchester County, SC are hispanic (9.91k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Dorchester County, SC as a share of the total population.

Foreign-Born Population

5.42%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

8.79k people

6.03%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

9.67k people

As of 2022, 5.42% of Dorchester County, SC residents (8.79k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Dorchester County, SC was 6.03%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Dorchester County, SC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
4,764 ± 692
Vietnam
3,557 ± 479
Gulf War (1990s)
3,444 ± 552

Dorchester County, SC has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.34 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Dorchester County, SC employs 77.5k people. The largest industries in Dorchester County, SC are Manufacturing (10,296 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (10,081 people), and Retail Trade (8,763 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($68,257), Manufacturing ($60,000), and Public Administration ($59,948).

Employment

Occupations

77.5k

2022 Value

± 2,597

2.44%

1 Year growth

± 4.66%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Dorchester County, SC grew at a rate of 2.44%, from 75.7k employees to 77.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Dorchester County, SC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,470 people), Management Occupations (9,018 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (6,939 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Dorchester County, SC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

77.5k

2022 Value

± 2,597

2.44%

1 Year growth

± 4.66%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Dorchester County, SC grew at a rate of 2.44%, from 75.7k employees to 77.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Dorchester County, SC, are Manufacturing (10,296 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (10,081 people), and Retail Trade (8,763 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Dorchester County, SC, though some of these residents may live in Dorchester County, SC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$54,157

Median earning men ± $2,151

$36,566

Median earning women ± $2,074

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($74,744), Public Administration ($74,000), and Information ($73,194).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Wholesale Trade ($56,375), Manufacturing ($51,584), and Public Administration ($50,217).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Y-Axis

2.54%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.26M people employed in South Carolina. This represents a 2.54% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in South Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

230
Construction
198
Other Services (except Public Administration)
183
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Dorchester County, SC went to Donald J. Trump with 54.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (43.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.58%).

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing the state of South Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (54.2%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (43.8%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.58%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Dorchester County, SC for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from South Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Lindsey Graham

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2003

Tim Scott

Senator from South Carolina

Assumed office on January 2, 2013
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Jim DeMint.

Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott are the senators currently representing South Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from South Carolina

South Carolina is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for South Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Dorchester County, SC awarded 96 degrees. The student population of Dorchester County, SC in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1 male students and 100 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Dorchester County, SC are Black or African American (62 and 64.6%), followed by White (25 and 26%), Hispanic or Latino (4 and 4.17%), and Two or More Races (2 and 2.08%).

The largest universities in Dorchester County, SC by number of degrees awarded are Charleston Cosmetology Institute (96 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Dorchester County, SC are Nail Specialist & Manicurist (36 and 37.5%), Aesthetician & Skin Care Specialist (34 and 35.4%), and General Cosmetology (26 and 27.1%).

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Measure

In 2022, 0.83% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.688% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.18M), Some college (892k), and Bachelors Degree (705k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Dorchester County, SC was $273,000 in 2022, which is 0.968 times smaller than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $228,700 to $273,000, a 19.4% increase. The homeownership rate in Dorchester County, SC is 74.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Dorchester County, SC have an average commute time of 31 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Dorchester County, SC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Dorchester County, SC is $73,686. In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Dorchester County, SC was Census Tract 108.01 with a value of $123,788, followed by Census Tract 108.19 and Census Tract 106.04, with respective values of $123,167 and $113,625.

Property

$273,000

Median Property Value 2022

±$5,282

$44,697

Median Property Taxes

±$1,851

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Dorchester County, SC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Dorchester County, SC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.8%

Homeownership

2022

70.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2022

In 2022, 74.8% of the housing units in Dorchester County, SC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 73.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Dorchester County, SC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 108.01
Census Tract 108.19
Census Tract 106.04

In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Dorchester County, SC was Census Tract 108.01 with a value of $123,788, followed by Census Tract 108.19 and Census Tract 106.04, with respective values of $123,167 and $113,625.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Dorchester County, SC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$73,686

Median Household Income

± $3,419

59.7k

Number of Households

± 2,279

In 2022, the median household income of the 59.7k households in Dorchester County, SC grew to $73,686 from the previous year's value of $68,046.

The following chart displays the households in Dorchester County, SC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Dorchester County, SC is from South Carolina.

0.464

2022 Wage GINI in South Carolina

0.463

2021 Wage GINI in South Carolina

In 2022, the income inequality in South Carolina was 0.464 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.334% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for South Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022

Drove Alone (83.1%)
Worked At Home (7.55%)
Carpooled (6.96%)

In 2022, 83.1% of workers in Dorchester County, SC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (7.55%) and those who carpooled to work (6.96%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

31 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Dorchester County, SC have a longer commute time (31 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 2.61% of the workforce in Dorchester County, SC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Dorchester County, SC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Dorchester County, SC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Dorchester County, SC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Dorchester County, SC (19.7k out of 159k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Dorchester County, SC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

89.5% of the population of Dorchester County, SC has health coverage, with 45.3% on employee plans, 14.5% on Medicaid, 10.7% on Medicare, 14.6% on non-group plans, and 4.4% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Dorchester County, SC see 3013 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.92% decrease from the previous year (3072 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1350 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 710 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.1% were men and 51.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

3,013 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Dorchester County, SC

Primary care physicians in Dorchester County, SC see an average of 3,013 patients per year. This represents a 1.92% decrease from the previous year (3,072 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Dorchester County, SC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.8% under 18 years, 19.8% between 18 and 34 years, 39.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.1% were men and 51.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

10.5%

Uninsured

45.3%

Employer Coverage

14.5%

Medicaid

10.7%

Medicare

14.6%

Non-Group

4.4%

Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Dorchester County, SC declined by 5.13% from 11.1% to 10.5%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Dorchester County, SC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 51.6 in Dorchester County, SC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Dorchester County, SC.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.2% in Dorchester County, SC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Dorchester County, SC.