HomeSouth CarolinaAiken County
Aiken County, South Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Aiken County, South Carolina had an estimated 179,245 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 168,805, across 1,071 square miles. County output reached $10.36 bn in 2024, 3,067 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 88 7(a) approvals worth $70.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Aiken County
How many people live in Aiken County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024174,160
- Households69,916
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$70,609
- Median age42.0
- Median gross rent$1,062 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$218,000
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over123,582
- Population under 1837,379
- Share under 1821.5 percent
- Population 65 and over36,156
- Share 65 and over20.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64100,625
- Civilian labor force81,900
- Unemployment rate6.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.9 percent
- Rank by population among South Carolina counties11th of 46
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included395th of 3,222
Aiken County is the 11th largest of 46 South Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.5 percent against 20.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Aiken County
Is Aiken County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024179,245
- Census 2020 base population168,805
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.18 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,211
- Births, 20242,426
- Deaths, 20242,174
- Natural change, 2024252
- Net domestic migration, 20241,601
- Net international migration, 2024352
- Total net migration, 20241,953
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20249,330
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents385th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.18 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Aiken County
Where are people moving to Aiken County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,151
- People arriving, from those returns9,745
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,901
- Net household movement1,250
- Adjusted gross income arriving$408.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$150.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$79,363
- Average income of a leaving household$66,213
- Largest single originRichmond County (668 households)
- Largest single destinationRichmond County (514 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | 668 | 1,264 | $36.4 m |
| Columbia County | 346 | 653 | $22.1 m |
| Edgefield County | 281 | 574 | $19.9 m |
| Lexington County | 259 | 519 | $14.6 m |
| Richland County | 133 | 225 | $7.5 m |
| Barnwell County | 111 | 232 | $4.8 m |
| Greenville County | 76 | 125 | $5.5 m |
| Saluda County | 63 | 126 | $2.6 m |
Households arriving report $13,150 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Richmond County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Aiken County
What is the Aiken County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$10.36 bn
- County GDP, 2023$9.79 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years36.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Carolina areas BEA publishes11th of 46
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes429th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$59,513
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 36.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Aiken County
Employment by industry in Aiken County
- Covered employment, annual average65,165
- Establishments reporting3,807
- Average annual pay$63,331
- Average weekly wage$1,218
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment10,042
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$89,264
- Manufacturing, employment8,966
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$76,117
- Retail trade, employment7,522
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,690
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,128
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$49,485
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,285
- Construction, employment6,102
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 10,042 | 217 | $89,264 |
| Manufacturing | 8,966 | 134 | $76,117 |
| Retail trade | 7,522 | 554 | $32,690 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,128 | 530 | $49,485 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,285 | 322 | $20,431 |
| Construction | 6,102 | 360 | $86,755 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3,687 | 482 | $106,597 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,725 | 96 | $60,011 |
Administrative and support and waste management services is the largest private sector at 10,042 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Aiken County
How many businesses are in Aiken County?
- Establishments, all industries3,067
- Employment at those establishments54,369
- Annual payroll$3.28 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Aiken County
Building permits in Aiken County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,500
- Declared construction value permitted$696.4 m
- Single family units authorized1,471
- Multifamily units authorized1,029
- Multifamily share of units41.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$278,548
- Units authorized per 1,000 households35.8
Multifamily is 41.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Aiken County
SBA loans in Aiken County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded88
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$70.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$796,350
- Median 7(a) approval$500,000
- 10th percentile approval$67,960
- 90th percentile approval$1,828,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,312
- Jobs per approval14.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active34
- Distinct industries receiving approvals56
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer27.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms24
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter52
- Franchise loans25
- Franchise share of approvals28.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (8)
- Most active lenderLive Oak Banking Company (14)
- 504 approvals recorded32
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.4 m
- Average 504 approval$699,656
- Median 504 approval$528,500
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval15.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.3
- Most active CDCCSRA Local Development Corporation (21)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$92.5 m
The average approval of $796,350 sits well above the median of $500,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 27.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aiken County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Aiken County
Do SBA loans in Aiken County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure59
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Cancelled11
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 12 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aiken County
SBA lending by place in Aiken County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Aiken, approvals52
- North Augusta, approvals20
- Graniteville, approvals4
- Beech Island, approvals4
- Salley, approvals2
- Warrenville, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken | 52 | $44,097,700 |
| North Augusta | 20 | $13,447,700 |
| Graniteville | 4 | $5,302,400 |
| Beech Island | 4 | $2,701,000 |
| Salley | 2 | $815,000 |
| Warrenville | 2 | $383,000 |
| Statesboro | 1 | $2,610,000 |
| New Ellenton | 1 | $637,000 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $85,000 |
Aiken accounts for 52 approvals against 20 in North Augusta. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Aiken County
How large is Aiken County?
- Land area1,071 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Carolina counties4th of 46
- Width, east to west47.6 mi
- Height, north to south48.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land163
- Establishments per square mile2.86
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Aiken County
Flood risk in Aiken County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Aiken County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 450002
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Aiken County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Aiken County (community 450002), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Aiken County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Aiken County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Aiken County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024174,160
- Households69,916
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$70,609
- Median age42.0
Common questions
Aiken County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Aiken County, South Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 179,245 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 174,160, in 69,916 households, ranking 11th of 46 South Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Aiken County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.18 percent since the 2020 census base of 168,805, to 179,245 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,426 births against 2,174 deaths, with net migration of 1,953. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Aiken County?
$70,609. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,000, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,062 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Aiken County?
3,067 establishments, employing 54,369 people with an annual payroll of $3.28 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Aiken County?
Administrative and support and waste management services is the largest private sector at 10,042 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 65,165 jobs at an average annual pay of $63,331, or $1,218 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Aiken County?
88 7(a) approvals totaling $70.1 m since FY2020, across 34 lenders, with a median approval of $500,000, plus 32 504 approvals worth $22.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Aiken County?
2,500 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $696.4 m. Multifamily was 41.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Aiken County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Aiken County come from?
The largest single origin is Richmond County, with 668 households. Arriving households report an average income of $79,363 against $66,213 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Aiken County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Aiken County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Aiken County
Cities and places in Aiken.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Aiken County. All 17 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | city | 32,521 | 52 | Wholly in this county |
| North Augusta | city | 25,653 | 20 | 92.9 percent here, 7.1 percent Edgefield County |
| Belvedere | CDP | 5,180 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clearwater | CDP | 3,319 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Burnettown | town | 3,135 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Ellenton | town | 2,837 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gloverville | CDP | 2,505 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Graniteville | CDP | 2,056 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Jackson | town | 1,870 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beech Island | CDP | 1,578 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Langley | CDP | 1,310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wagener | town | 1,193 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Warrenville | CDP | 1,042 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Windsor | town | 307 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Salley | town | 288 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Monetta | town | 282 | None recorded | 29.2 percent here, 70.8 percent Saluda County |
| Perry | town | 250 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 88 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Aiken County, the largest being Statesboro (1), Ridge Spring (1), Williston (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.