Is being in an area of South Carolina that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?
Depends on who you ask.
Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Charleston and Columbia, while others want peace and quiet like in Batesburg-Leesville and Cheraw, thank you very much.
But today, we’re going to put opinions aside and look at the cold, hard facts — since 2010, which cities in South Carolina have grown the fastest.
After getting knee-deep in the Census’s American Community Survey using Saturday Night Science, we emerged with this set of cities in the Palmetto State that have people climbing over each other to get in.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In South Carolina For 2024
What’s the fastest growing city in South Carolina for 2024? Based on the most recent ACS data, Bluffton ranks as the fastest-growing city in South Carolina. If you happen to be a resident of Bluffton, you’re probably not surprised to find it on our list.
If you’re surprised — and you’re wondering why these places are a big deal — keep reading. We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 places in South Carolina grow like weeds.
For more South Carolina state reading:
- Best Places To Live In The United States
- Fastest Growing States In The United States
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina
The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In South Carolina For 2024
1. Bluffton
/10
Population: 29,375
Population 2010: 10,748
Percent Growth 173.3%
Absolute Growth: 18,627
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
2. Hardeeville
/10
Population: 8,048
Population 2010: 2,985
Percent Growth 169.6%
Absolute Growth: 5,063
More on Hardeeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
3. Fort Mill
/10
Population: 26,022
Population 2010: 10,273
Percent Growth 153.3%
Absolute Growth: 15,749
More on Fort Mill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
4. Lyman
/10
5. Tega Cay
/10
Population: 12,816
Population 2010: 7,014
Percent Growth 82.7%
Absolute Growth: 5,802
More on Tega Cay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
6. Moncks Corner
/10
Population: 13,456
Population 2010: 7,508
Percent Growth 79.2%
Absolute Growth: 5,948
More on Moncks Corner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
7. Travelers Rest
/10
Population: 7,929
Population 2010: 4,466
Percent Growth 77.5%
Absolute Growth: 3,463
More on Travelers Rest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
8. Greer
/10
Population: 37,010
Population 2010: 23,908
Percent Growth 54.8%
Absolute Growth: 13,102
More on Greer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
9. Conway
/10
Population: 25,121
Population 2010: 16,424
Percent Growth 53.0%
Absolute Growth: 8,697
More on Conway: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
10. Lexington
/10
Population: 23,665
Population 2010: 16,410
Percent Growth 44.2%
Absolute Growth: 7,255
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In the Palmetto State for 2024
To figure out which cities are growing the most, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the growth rates for cities since the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:
- Current Population
- Population in 2010
- Growth rate from 2010 to Current (The latest available data which came out in Dec 2022)
We ranked all 64 South Carolina cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.
The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest-growing city in the Palmetto State.
And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula:
[Current Population – Population 2010] / [Population 2010]
The data has been updated for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the fastest growing cities in South Carolina.
Here’s a graph of the cities in South Carolina with the most significant percent increase in population:
Summary: These Places Grew Up So Fast In South Carolina, You Know?
So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in South Carolina are led by Bluffton which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.
The fastest-growing cities in South Carolina are Bluffton, Hardeeville, Fort Mill, Lyman, Tega Cay, Moncks Corner, Travelers Rest, Greer, Conway, and Lexington.
It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know!
These places have been growing (or shrinking) the slowest (fastest):
- Bennettsville
- Cheraw
- Clinton
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In South Carolina
Fastest Growing Places In South Carolina For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Population 2010 | Growth | Absolute Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluffton | 29,375 | 10,748 | 173.3% | 18,627 |
| 2 | Hardeeville | 8,048 | 2,985 | 169.6% | 5,063 |
| 3 | Fort Mill | 26,022 | 10,273 | 153.3% | 15,749 |
| 4 | Lyman | 6,099 | 3,111 | 96.0% | 2,988 |
| 5 | Tega Cay | 12,816 | 7,014 | 82.7% | 5,802 |
| 6 | Moncks Corner | 13,456 | 7,508 | 79.2% | 5,948 |
| 7 | Travelers Rest | 7,929 | 4,466 | 77.5% | 3,463 |
| 8 | Greer | 37,010 | 23,908 | 54.8% | 13,102 |
| 9 | Conway | 25,121 | 16,424 | 53.0% | 8,697 |
| 10 | Lexington | 23,665 | 16,410 | 44.2% | 7,255 |