HomeSouth CarolinaColleton County
Colleton County, South Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Colleton County, South Carolina had an estimated 39,259 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,601, across 1,056 square miles. County output reached $1.50 bn in 2024, 793 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 26 7(a) approvals worth $29.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Colleton County
How many people live in Colleton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202438,783
- Households16,408
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$51,114
- Median age42.0
- Median gross rent$949 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$162,500
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,192
- Population under 188,792
- Share under 1822.7 percent
- Population 65 and over7,929
- Share 65 and over20.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,062
- Civilian labor force17,178
- Unemployment rate9.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.3 percent
- Rank by population among South Carolina counties26th of 46
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1233rd of 3,222
Colleton County is the 26th largest of 46 South Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.7 percent against 20.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Colleton County
Is Colleton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202439,259
- Census 2020 base population38,601
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.70 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024219
- Births, 2024405
- Deaths, 2024619
- Natural change, 2024-214
- Net domestic migration, 2024250
- Net international migration, 2024184
- Total net migration, 2024434
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,176
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1272nd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.70 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Colleton County
Where are people moving to Colleton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving918
- People arriving, from those returns1,714
- Tax returns filed by households leaving802
- Net household movement116
- Adjusted gross income arriving$56.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$17.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,014
- Average income of a leaving household$47,535
- Largest single originCharleston County (151 households)
- Largest single destinationDorchester County (137 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | 151 | 280 | $8.2 m |
| Dorchester County | 128 | 255 | $6.3 m |
| Berkeley County | 94 | 196 | $8.4 m |
| Beaufort County | 31 | 53 | $1.7 m |
| Richland County | 24 | 47 | $1.2 m |
| Orangeburg County | 23 | 48 | $667,000 |
| Hampton County | 20 | 40 | $738,000 |
Households arriving report $13,479 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 Charleston 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.
Colleton County
What is the Colleton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.50 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.36 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.3 percent
- GDP change over five years48.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Carolina areas BEA publishes29th of 46
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1519th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,603
Output grew 10.3 percent in the latest year and 48.4 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.
Colleton County
Employment by industry in Colleton County
- Covered employment, annual average10,285
- Establishments reporting916
- Average annual pay$48,150
- Average weekly wage$926
- Retail trade, employment1,576
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,870
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,565
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,817
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,173
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,498
- Manufacturing, employment785
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$54,694
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment617
- Construction, employment580
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,576 | 138 | $32,870 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,565 | 104 | $50,817 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,173 | 90 | $22,498 |
| Manufacturing | 785 | 37 | $54,694 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 617 | 43 | $38,670 |
| Construction | 580 | 98 | $61,290 |
| Wholesale trade | 262 | 30 | $122,781 |
| Finance and insurance | 228 | 42 | $70,413 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,576 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Colleton County
How many businesses are in Colleton County?
- Establishments, all industries793
- Employment at those establishments7,333
- Annual payroll$341.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.4
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.
Colleton County
Building permits in Colleton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202448
- Declared construction value permitted$25.9 m
- Single family units authorized42
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units12.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$539,241
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.9
Single-family homes are 87.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Colleton County
SBA loans in Colleton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded26
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$29.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,125,538
- Median 7(a) approval$829,650
- 10th percentile approval$27,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,886,700
- Largest single approval$4,164,400
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)233
- Jobs per approval9.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active17
- Distinct industries receiving approvals14
- Median 7(a) term300 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer57.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms15
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter11
- Franchise loans13
- Franchise share of approvals50.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (12)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.5 m
- Average 504 approval$728,500
- Median 504 approval$728,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval7.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$30.7 m
The average approval of $1,125,538 sits well above the median of $829,650, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 57.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Colleton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Colleton County
Do SBA loans in Colleton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 5 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.
Colleton County
SBA lending by place in Colleton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Walterboro, approvals19
- Green Pond, approvals3
- Jacksonboro, approvals1
- Cottageville, approvals1
- Edisto Island, approvals1
- Islandton, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Walterboro | 19 | $27,716,800 |
| Green Pond | 3 | $88,500 |
| Jacksonboro | 1 | $803,000 |
| Cottageville | 1 | $380,700 |
| Edisto Island | 1 | $150,000 |
| Islandton | 1 | $125,000 |
Walterboro accounts for 19 approvals against 3 in Green Pond. 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.
Colleton County
How large is Colleton County?
- Land area1,056 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Carolina counties5th of 46
- Width, east to west48.5 mi
- Height, north to south49.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land37
- Establishments per square mile0.75
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.
Colleton County
Flood risk in Colleton County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Colleton County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 450056
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Colleton 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 Colleton County (community 450056), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Colleton 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 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 83.3 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 Colleton 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 Colleton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202438,783
- Households16,408
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$51,114
- Median age42.0
Common questions
Colleton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Colleton County, South Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 39,259 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 38,783, in 16,408 households, ranking 26th of 46 South Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Colleton County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.70 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,601, to 39,259 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 405 births against 619 deaths, with net migration of 434. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Colleton County?
$51,114. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,500, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $949 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Colleton County?
793 establishments, employing 7,333 people with an annual payroll of $341.6 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Colleton County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,576 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,285 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,150, or $926 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Colleton County?
26 7(a) approvals totaling $29.3 m since FY2020, across 17 lenders, with a median approval of $829,650, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Colleton County?
48 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $25.9 m. Multifamily was 12.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Colleton 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 Colleton County come from?
The largest single origin is Charleston County, with 151 households. Arriving households report an average income of $61,014 against $47,535 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Colleton 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 Colleton 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.
Colleton County
Cities and places in Colleton.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Colleton County. All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walterboro | city | 5,480 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Cottageville | town | 1,196 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Edisto Beach | town | 1,092 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jacksonboro | CDP | 336 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Williams | town | 100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lodge | town | 98 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Smoaks | town | 95 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Islandton | CDP | 56 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 26 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Colleton County, the largest being Green Pond (3), Edisto Island (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.