Fastest growing cities in South Carolina
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Socastee
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,105
--- #993 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 29.8%
--- #66 among cities in South Carolina, #3,873 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,213
--- #27 largest city in South Carolina, #2,055 largest city nationwide
#19. Lake Wylie
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,293
--- #953 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 63.3%
--- #26 among cities in South Carolina, #1,653 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,655
--- #43 largest city in South Carolina, #3,163 largest city nationwide
#18. North Myrtle Beach
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,393
--- #937 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 40.3%
--- #41 among cities in South Carolina, #2,826 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,790
--- #31 largest city in South Carolina, #2,399 largest city nationwide
#17. Moncks Corner
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,789
--- #883 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 77.1%
--- #22 among cities in South Carolina, #1,243 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,297
--- #46 largest city in South Carolina, #3,239 largest city nationwide
#16. Simpsonville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,817
--- #877 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 33.2%
--- #53 among cities in South Carolina, #3,471 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,354
--- #23 largest city in South Carolina, #1,962 largest city nationwide
#15. Tega Cay
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,818
--- #876 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 82.9%
--- #18 among cities in South Carolina, #1,132 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,832
--- #49 largest city in South Carolina, #3,341 largest city nationwide
#14. Lexington
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,158
--- #732 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 43.6%
--- #36 among cities in South Carolina, #2,583 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,568
--- #22 largest city in South Carolina, #1,939 largest city nationwide
#13. Conway
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,425
--- #621 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 51.3%
--- #29 among cities in South Carolina, #2,145 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,849
--- #18 largest city in South Carolina, #1,834 largest city nationwide
#12. Myrtle Beach
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,986
--- #577 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 33.7%
--- #52 among cities in South Carolina, #3,417 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 35,682
--- #13 largest city in South Carolina, #1,234 largest city nationwide
#11. Columbia
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,027
--- #575 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.1%
--- #145 among cities in South Carolina, #10,369 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 136,632
--- #2 largest city in South Carolina, #210 largest city nationwide
#10. Summerville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +10,506
--- #490 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 26.0%
--- #71 among cities in South Carolina, #4,419 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 50,915
--- #7 largest city in South Carolina, #849 largest city nationwide
#9. Goose Creek
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,181
--- #463 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 32.2%
--- #57 among cities in South Carolina, #3,588 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 45,946
--- #8 largest city in South Carolina, #940 largest city nationwide
#8. Rock Hill
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,264
--- #460 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.8%
--- #96 among cities in South Carolina, #6,163 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 74,372
--- #5 largest city in South Carolina, #515 largest city nationwide
#7. Greer
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +11,400
--- #452 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 47.7%
--- #30 among cities in South Carolina, #2,334 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 35,308
--- #14 largest city in South Carolina, #1,247 largest city nationwide
#6. Greenville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +12,899
--- #382 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 22.3%
--- #79 among cities in South Carolina, #5,113 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 70,720
--- #6 largest city in South Carolina, #554 largest city nationwide
#5. Fort Mill
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,248
--- #334 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 138.7%
--- #10 among cities in South Carolina, #560 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,521
--- #20 largest city in South Carolina, #1,857 largest city nationwide
#4. Bluffton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +16,968
--- #260 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 157.9%
--- #8 among cities in South Carolina, #477 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 27,716
--- #17 largest city in South Carolina, #1,618 largest city nationwide
#3. North Charleston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +20,328
--- #202 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 21.5%
--- #80 among cities in South Carolina, #5,296 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 114,852
--- #3 largest city in South Carolina, #262 largest city nationwide
#2. Mount Pleasant
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +26,593
--- #128 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 41.4%
--- #37 among cities in South Carolina, #2,751 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 90,801
--- #4 largest city in South Carolina, #390 largest city nationwide
#1. Charleston
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +33,880
--- #96 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 29.1%
--- #67 among cities in South Carolina, #3,964 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 150,227
--- #1 largest city in South Carolina, #183 largest city nationwide
