City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Goose Creek, SC

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

46,964
Residents
$87,437
Median income
$279,500
Median home
$1,787
Median rent (state)

Goose Creek - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Goose Creek places in the 69th percentile for household income and the 39th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

69th
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
74th
percentile, median rent
39th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Goose Creek, SC

46,964 people live in Goose Creek, South Carolina - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $87,437 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.6%. Typical homes in Goose Creek are valued around $279,500, and the median resident age is 33.7 years. About 29.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 503 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 39% from five years earlier. Goose Creek reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1721.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,787 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

46,964 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$87,437 /yr

Poverty 4.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Goose Creek compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 74% pricier than other cities
Safety 39% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just South Carolina and the picture shifts: Goose Creek ranks #31 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

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 Goose Creek'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.

69thIncome percentile
39thSafety percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income · 39th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Goose Creek's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Goose Creek's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 47 Avg. percentile National median
Goose Creek's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Goose Creek's home value compares nationally

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

$279,500 38th percentile more affordable than 38% 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. Goose Creek $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 - Goose Creek, SC Goose Creek, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Goose Creek, 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 Goose Creek, SC median $87,437/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%
Goose Creek, 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 Goose Creek, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.0%

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

Population
46,964
Median Income
$87,437
Median Home Value
$279,500
Median Age
33.7
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Labor force participation
59.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1721.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
256.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1465.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
44,000 residents46,000 residents48,000 residents50,000 residents52,000 residents54,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 46,335 residents 52,010 residents ▲ +12.2%
Goose Creek's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
503
housing units authorized
Single-Family
503
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 363
2020 380
2021 372
2022 527
2023 341
2024 503

Permit volume increased 39% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.7%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
5.7%
Work from Home
11.8%
Other
0.6%

Based on 26,470 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 Goose Creek sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,787/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Sumter
43,065 people
Summerville
51,262 people
Florence
40,205 people
Greer
39,191 people
Spartanburg
38,578 people
Hilton Head Island
37,805 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Goose Creek's 46,964 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Providence, RI
46,970 people
La Mirada, CA
46,945 people
Huntsville, TX
46,917 people
Rowland Heights, CA
46,787 people
Beavercreek, OH
46,787 people
Newark, CA
47,145 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Goose Creek's $87,437 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Davis, CA
$87,421 median income
Forked River, NJ
$87,455 median income
Danbury, TX
$87,417 median income
Battlefield, MO
$87,414 median income
Valley Acres, CA
$87,407 median income
Eagleville, TN
$87,404 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Goose Creek, 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 Goose Creek, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.3% 22.4% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.6% White 60.3% Black or African American 22.4% Asian 3.5% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 5.6% Two or more races 7.8% 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 Goose Creek 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
Goose Creek (this city) 46,964 $87,437
Sumter 43,065 $53,071
Summerville 51,262 $78,621
Florence 40,205 $56,433
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Goose Creek, SC?

What is the population of Goose Creek, SC? +

The population of Goose Creek, SC stands at 46,964 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Goose Creek, SC? +

Goose Creek households earn a median of $87,437 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Goose Creek? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Goose Creek; 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.

Is Goose Creek, SC safe? +

Goose Creek has a total crime rate of 1721.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Goose Creek, SC? +

Goose Creek's median home value sits at $279,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.