State rank#12 of 46
Smallest county167,201 residentsGreenville County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 45035
Dorchester County, South Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population167,201
Household income$78,198
Unemployment3.7%
Life expectancy76.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Dorchester County has 167,201 residents and ranks #12 by population among South Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $78,198. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within South Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Dorchester County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Dorchester County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $329,300 median home value and $1,463/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $78,198, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Dorchester County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 29.8% and life expectancy is 76.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.7%, rank #4 of 46 available South Carolina counties.
- Life expectancy: 76.4 years, rank #4 of 46 available South Carolina counties.
- Median household income: $78,198, rank #6 of 46 available South Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,463/mo, rank #43 of 46; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $329,300, rank #42 of 46; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 3,141 residents, rank #37 of 46; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within South Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in South Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$78,198
$78,198; above the state county median of $57,158.
State rank #6 of 46 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$329,300
$329,300; above the state county median of $172,700.
State rank #42 of 46 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,463/mo
$1,463/mo; above the state county median of $897/mo.
State rank #43 of 46 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.7%
3.7%; below the state county median of 4.6%.
State rank #4 of 46 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.8%
29.8%; above the state county median of 23.4%.
State rank #11 of 46 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.4 years
76.4 years; above the state county median of 72.7 years.
State rank #4 of 46 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
16.7%
16.7%; below the state county median of 19.7%.
State rank #12 of 46 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
10.4%
10.4%; below the state county median of 11.5%.
State rank #10 of 46 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 3,141 residents
1 per 3,141 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,188 residents.
State rank #37 of 46 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 669 residents
1 per 669 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 665 residents.
State rank #24 of 46 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Dorchester County FAQ
Is Dorchester County a good place to live?
Dorchester County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 29.8% and life expectancy is 76.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Dorchester County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $329,300 median home value and $1,463/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $78,198, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Dorchester County?
Dorchester County has 167,201 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Dorchester County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 45035; the parent state FIPS is 45.
What is the median household income in Dorchester County?
The ACS median household income is $78,198.
How much does housing cost in Dorchester County?
Housing benchmarks are $329,300 median home value and $1,463/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $78,198, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Dorchester County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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