Racial diversity in South Carolina is a mixed bag.
There are parts of South Carolina where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in South Carolina?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 65 cities in South Carolina to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in South Carolina for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in South Carolina? According to the most Census data, North Charleston took the number one over all spot for diversity in South Carolina.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where South Carolina ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more South Carolina reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In South Carolina For 2024
/10
Population: 115,755
HHI: 3,466
% White: 37.3%
% African American: 44.1%
% Hispanic: 10.3%
% Asian: 3.3%
More on North Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,534
HHI: 3,642
% White: 50.3%
% African American: 30.7%
% Hispanic: 11.0%
% Asian: 0.1%
More on York: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,682
HHI: 3,679
% White: 39.5%
% African American: 43.8%
% Hispanic: 14.1%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Newberry: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,651
HHI: 3,723
% White: 42.1%
% African American: 43.4%
% Hispanic: 5.6%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Gaffney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,004
HHI: 3,800
% White: 45.1%
% African American: 40.8%
% Hispanic: 8.8%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Batesburg-Leesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 43,046
HHI: 3,840
% White: 39.5%
% African American: 47.1%
% Hispanic: 7.3%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Sumter: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,592
HHI: 3,845
% White: 33.4%
% African American: 51.0%
% Hispanic: 10.7%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on Lancaster: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 136,754
HHI: 3,951
% White: 47.9%
% African American: 40.2%
% Hispanic: 5.2%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on Columbia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 37,010
HHI: 3,986
% White: 58.4%
% African American: 16.6%
% Hispanic: 15.8%
% Asian: 6.3%
More on Greer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,528
HHI: 3,994
% White: 40.3%
% African American: 47.7%
% Hispanic: 9.7%
% Asian: 1.1%
More on Greenwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in South Carolina for 2024
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across South Carolina.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 65 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 3,466 (North Charleston) to 8,170 (Mount Pleasant).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. North Charleston took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Mount Pleasant was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in South Carolina.
Summary: Diversity Across South Carolina
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across South Carolina, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in South Carolina are North Charleston, York, Newberry, Gaffney, Batesburg-Leesville, Sumter, Lancaster, Columbia, Greer, and Greenwood.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in South Carolina:
- Mount Pleasant
- North Myrtle Beach
- James Island
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In South Carolina
Race By City In South Carolina For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Charleston, SC | 115,755 | 3,466 | 37.3% | 44.1% | 10.3% | 3.3% |
| 2 | York, SC | 8,534 | 3,642 | 50.3% | 30.7% | 11.0% | 0.1% |
| 3 | Newberry, SC | 10,682 | 3,679 | 39.5% | 43.8% | 14.1% | 0.3% |
| 4 | Gaffney, SC | 12,651 | 3,723 | 42.1% | 43.4% | 5.6% | 0.0% |
| 5 | Batesburg-Leesville, SC | 5,004 | 3,800 | 45.1% | 40.8% | 8.8% | 0.3% |
| 6 | Sumter, SC | 43,046 | 3,840 | 39.5% | 47.1% | 7.3% | 2.1% |
| 7 | Lancaster, SC | 8,592 | 3,845 | 33.4% | 51.0% | 10.7% | 2.3% |
| 8 | Columbia, SC | 136,754 | 3,951 | 47.9% | 40.2% | 5.2% | 2.3% |
| 9 | Greer, SC | 37,010 | 3,986 | 58.4% | 16.6% | 15.8% | 6.3% |
| 10 | Greenwood, SC | 22,528 | 3,994 | 40.3% | 47.7% | 9.7% | 1.1% |
| 11 | Port Royal, SC | 14,573 | 4,012 | 57.9% | 18.8% | 16.6% | 1.6% |
| 12 | Cheraw, SC | 5,056 | 4,074 | 44.6% | 45.2% | 5.2% | 1.6% |
| 13 | Walterboro, SC | 5,515 | 4,086 | 47.5% | 42.1% | 6.6% | 3.1% |
| 14 | Rock Hill, SC | 74,170 | 4,098 | 51.0% | 38.1% | 6.0% | 1.6% |
| 15 | Spartanburg, SC | 38,301 | 4,117 | 45.6% | 44.7% | 5.1% | 2.1% |
| 16 | Dillon, SC | 6,454 | 4,117 | 39.5% | 50.0% | 7.7% | 0.0% |
| 17 | Central, SC | 5,272 | 4,195 | 61.8% | 10.1% | 7.0% | 7.5% |
| 18 | Fountain Inn, SC | 10,675 | 4,229 | 57.5% | 28.6% | 9.7% | 0.0% |
| 19 | Goose Creek, SC | 45,858 | 4,288 | 61.3% | 20.6% | 8.4% | 3.6% |
| 20 | Mauldin, SC | 25,267 | 4,309 | 59.9% | 24.4% | 10.9% | 2.6% |
| 21 | Cayce, SC | 13,755 | 4,353 | 60.5% | 24.7% | 7.3% | 4.1% |
| 22 | Florence, SC | 39,931 | 4,365 | 42.6% | 50.3% | 2.4% | 2.7% |
| 23 | Union, SC | 8,099 | 4,412 | 49.5% | 44.1% | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| 24 | Clinton, SC | 7,624 | 4,525 | 55.8% | 37.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| 25 | Hollywood, SC | 5,397 | 4,527 | 57.0% | 35.4% | 2.8% | 1.4% |
| 26 | Aiken, SC | 32,014 | 4,543 | 56.9% | 35.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| 27 | Anderson, SC | 29,345 | 4,573 | 61.0% | 28.6% | 3.7% | 2.4% |
| 28 | Bennettsville, SC | 6,975 | 4,597 | 30.6% | 60.3% | 3.6% | 0.9% |
| 29 | Georgetown, SC | 8,465 | 4,601 | 45.2% | 50.5% | 2.3% | 0.4% |
| 30 | Hartsville, SC | 7,450 | 4,619 | 47.7% | 48.4% | 1.2% | 1.9% |
| 31 | Simpsonville, SC | 24,133 | 4,620 | 63.5% | 22.6% | 8.0% | 1.3% |
| 32 | Conway, SC | 25,121 | 4,623 | 59.3% | 33.0% | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| 33 | Beaufort, SC | 13,582 | 4,624 | 61.5% | 28.2% | 5.7% | 0.7% |
| 34 | Laurens, SC | 9,276 | 4,653 | 57.8% | 36.1% | 2.7% | 0.7% |
| 35 | Moncks Corner, SC | 13,456 | 4,671 | 58.4% | 35.3% | 2.6% | 0.2% |
| 36 | West Columbia, SC | 17,459 | 4,678 | 65.0% | 17.7% | 11.2% | 3.4% |
| 37 | Irmo, SC | 11,685 | 4,697 | 61.9% | 28.9% | 2.1% | 4.2% |
| 38 | Lyman, SC | 6,099 | 4,708 | 65.8% | 17.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| 39 | Clover, SC | 6,800 | 4,723 | 65.6% | 15.5% | 12.1% | 0.4% |
| 40 | Camden, SC | 7,834 | 4,775 | 61.3% | 31.6% | 4.5% | 0.7% |
| 41 | Hardeeville, SC | 8,048 | 4,887 | 65.8% | 13.6% | 19.2% | 0.3% |
| 42 | Greenville, SC | 70,838 | 4,891 | 65.8% | 22.6% | 6.2% | 1.9% |
| 43 | Darlington, SC | 6,172 | 4,972 | 34.8% | 61.3% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| 44 | Chester, SC | 5,260 | 5,067 | 36.0% | 61.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| 45 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 36,064 | 5,089 | 68.6% | 15.3% | 11.4% | 0.9% |
| 46 | Summerville, SC | 50,839 | 5,254 | 69.4% | 19.7% | 5.9% | 1.6% |
| 47 | Lake City, SC | 6,080 | 5,402 | 23.8% | 69.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| 48 | Hanahan, SC | 20,731 | 5,455 | 72.0% | 10.0% | 12.6% | 2.9% |
| 49 | Seneca, SC | 8,834 | 5,481 | 71.3% | 18.5% | 7.7% | 0.5% |
| 50 | Charleston, SC | 149,960 | 5,485 | 71.6% | 18.1% | 4.8% | 2.1% |
| 51 | Bluffton, SC | 29,375 | 5,648 | 73.5% | 8.5% | 13.1% | 0.8% |
| 52 | Tega Cay, SC | 12,816 | 5,740 | 74.2% | 3.9% | 11.9% | 8.6% |
| 53 | Orangeburg, SC | 13,220 | 5,879 | 23.1% | 73.1% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| 54 | Travelers Rest, SC | 7,929 | 5,907 | 74.9% | 16.5% | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| 55 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 37,708 | 5,925 | 75.4% | 7.1% | 13.8% | 0.8% |
| 56 | Lexington, SC | 23,665 | 6,005 | 76.4% | 10.3% | 4.8% | 5.5% |
| 57 | Marion, SC | 6,402 | 6,036 | 24.0% | 73.9% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| 58 | Fort Mill, SC | 26,022 | 6,043 | 76.6% | 11.1% | 5.7% | 3.1% |
| 59 | North Augusta, SC | 24,425 | 6,075 | 76.4% | 13.8% | 6.4% | 0.5% |
| 60 | Forest Acres, SC | 10,514 | 6,335 | 78.3% | 13.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| 61 | Clemson, SC | 17,557 | 6,378 | 79.1% | 8.4% | 3.0% | 6.4% |
| 62 | Easley, SC | 23,135 | 6,713 | 81.1% | 9.9% | 5.6% | 0.6% |
| 63 | James Island, SC | 11,689 | 7,264 | 84.5% | 10.2% | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| 64 | North Myrtle Beach, SC | 18,850 | 7,710 | 87.5% | 0.9% | 6.9% | 2.4% |
| 65 | Mount Pleasant, SC | 90,945 | 8,170 | 90.3% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 1.7% |
