Census-designated place · South Carolina
Ladson, South Carolina
Ladson, census-designated place, mostly in Berkeley County (80.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Charleston County, South Carolina. Ladson had 16,140 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,401). GEOID 4539220.
Residents, 2020-2024
16,140
±1,401 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 15,550
Median household income
$78,760
±$17,308 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$234,900
±$14,362 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,785
±$181 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Ladson and what county is it in?
Ladson is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, mostly in Berkeley County (80.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Charleston County, South Carolina. It covers 6.9 square miles of land, 2,245 residents per square mile in 2020.
Ladson is in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 12,560 | 80.8% |
| Charleston County | 2,990 | 19.2% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ladson, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Ladson's population at 16,140 (±1,401). The 2020 Census counted 15,550 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Ladson is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Ladson | Berkeley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,140 ±1,401 | 246,802 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,777 ±524 | 93,711 | +731 |
| Average household size | 2.79 ±0.21 | 2.59 | −0.29 |
| Housing units | 6,196 ±535 | 100,600 | +850 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ladson?
The median resident of Ladson is 31.3 years old; 26.8% are under 18 and 10.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 44.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 29.3%. 13.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ladson | Berkeley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 ±2.8 | 36.9 | −3.9 |
| Under 18 years | 26.8% ±3.0 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.2% ±2.4 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Male | 53.7% ±3.3 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.3% ±5.9 pts | 9.2% | +9.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 44.2% ±7.6 pts | 60.1% | −22.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 29.3% ±6.9 pts | 22.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±2.3 pts | 2.5% | +3.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±1.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.5% ±4.8 pts | 6.7% | +10.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 18.1% ±6.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.1% ±3.7 pts | 12.4% | – |
| With a disability | 14.4% ±2.9 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 18.7% ±4.6 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.0% ±3.0 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.8% ±4.9 pts | 31.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.4% ±1.6 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.8% ±4.9 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9% ±2.2 pts | 5.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ladson earn?
Half of Ladson's 5,777 households earn less than $78,760 a year (±$17,308), against $84,358 in Berkeley County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $78,528 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ladson | Berkeley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,760 ±$17,308 | $84,358 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $98,385 ±$21,149 | $104,881 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,541 ±$8,464 | $40,958 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.3% ±3.5 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.6% ±6.2 pts | 13.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.1% ±2.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.8% ±1.1 pts | 96.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.7% ±3.5 pts | 89.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ladson?
Owners occupy 76.6% of Ladson's occupied homes and renters 23.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $234,900 by its owner (±$14,362). The median renter pays $1,785 a month including utilities, and 50.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ladson | Berkeley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $234,900 ±$14,362 | $310,300 | +$33,558 |
| Median gross rent | $1,785 ±$181 | $1,654 | +$288 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.4% ±15.7 pts | 42.7% | +24.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,472 ±$141 | $1,681 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.6% ±6.2 pts | 74.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.4% ±6.2 pts | 25.5% | – |
| Housing units | 6,196 ±535 | 100,600 | +850 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.0% ±3.9 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.9% ±6.5 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.9% ±5.3 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 6.4% ±2.8 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.8% ±5.3 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.1% ±4.8 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Ladson work and get to work?
71.6% of Ladson's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Ladson | Berkeley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.2% ±4.1 pts | 66.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±2.5 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6% ±6.4 pts | 76.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.0% ±4.6 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3% ±5.0 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.9 min ±3.3 | 29.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Ladson?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Ladson, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $64,406 (Tract 207.17) to $85,271 (Tract 207.16).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 207.16Berkeley County | 9,212 | $85,271 |
| Tract 207.17Berkeley County | 5,467 | $64,406 |
| Tract 31.06Charleston County | 9,465 | $65,313 |
| Tract 207.21Berkeley County | 3,523 | $124,844 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ladson) · Census block assignment files
How does Ladson compare with other places in South Carolina?
Ladson ranks 47th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 37th | 261 |
| Residents per square mile | 19th | 261 |
| Median household income | 47th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 81st | 259 |
| Median home value | 85th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 8th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 166th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 135th | 226 |
| Median age | 230th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 80th | 258 |
| Work from home | 71st | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 35th | 261 |
Ladson's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Ladson with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Ladson?
10 of the 57 figures for Ladson on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ladson are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.