City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Carolina Forest, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carolina Forest - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

26,373
Residents
$70,647
Median income
$298,700
Median home
$1,465
Median rent (state)

Carolina Forest - the verdict

Nationally, Carolina Forest sits in the 50th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

50th
percentile, household income
65th
percentile, home value
57th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carolina Forest, SC

26,373 people live in Carolina Forest, South Carolina - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $70,647 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.9%. Carolina Forest's housing stock carries a median value of $298,700, and the median resident age is 37.6 years. 34.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Carolina scores 93.7 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,465 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). Workers in Carolina Forest report an average commute of 20.2 minutes, with 81.5% driving alone and 8.3% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 98.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

26,373 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$70,647 /yr

Poverty 10.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Carolina Forest compare to other US cities?

Here's how Carolina Forest stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 65% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Carolina Forest's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

50thIncome percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Carolina Forest's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$298,700 35th percentile more affordable than 35% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Carolina Forest $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carolina Forest, SC Carolina Forest, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carolina Forest, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carolina Forest, SC median $70,647/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carolina Forest, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carolina Forest, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 34.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
26,373
Median Income
$70,647
Median Home Value
$298,700
Median Age
37.6
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Labor force participation
57.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
34.2%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.2 minutes
Drive Alone
81.5%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
8.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 11,978 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carolina Forest sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,465/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Conway
26,082 people
Mauldin
25,985 people
Simpsonville
25,125 people
North Augusta
24,928 people
Socastee
24,629 people
Fort Mill
28,281 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carolina Forest's 26,373 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Elk River, MN
26,367 people
Elmira, NY
26,349 people
Forest Grove, OR
26,406 people
Woodstock, IL
26,316 people
Leland, NC
26,307 people
Eureka, CA
26,302 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carolina Forest's $70,647 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lacona, IA
$70,647 median income
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
$70,645 median income
Stanford, CA
$70,651 median income
Ama, LA
$70,652 median income
Grantsburg, IN
$70,641 median income
Idalou, TX
$70,655 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carolina Forest, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carolina Forest, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.9% 8.9% 6.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.5% White 77.9% Black or African American 8.9% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 6.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carolina Forest compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carolina Forest (this city) 26,373 $70,647
Conway 26,082 $54,841
Mauldin 25,985 $81,027
Simpsonville 25,125 $79,233
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carolina Forest, SC?

What is the population of Carolina Forest, SC? +

26,373 people live in Carolina Forest, SC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carolina Forest, SC? +

Median annual household income in Carolina Forest runs $70,647, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carolina Forest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carolina Forest; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Carolina Forest, SC? +

Carolina Forest's median home value sits at $298,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.