The population boom in South Carolina is real. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Palmetto State is now the fastest-growing state in the U.S., after its population increased by 1.5% between July 2024 and July 2025.
That growth placed South Carolina ahead of every other state during the same period. State officials say the biggest reason is domestic migration, with more Americans choosing to move into South Carolina than leave it.
And, the growth has not been spread evenly across the state. Research shows that more than 80% of South Carolina’s population gain since the 2020 Census has taken place in only 10 counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Lancaster, Lexington, Greenville, Horry, Richland, Spartanburg and York.
“From July 2024 to July 2025, South Carolina netted 66,622 domestic migrants, meaning 66,622 more people moved into the state than out of it,” the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reported.
The numbers point to a state that has become increasingly attractive to people looking for a different balance of work, lifestyle and affordability. South Carolina’s climate, economy and cost of living have all been cited as major factors drawing new residents from other parts of the country.
South Carolina has seen steady population gains over the last five years, although the sharpest single-year jump came between July 2022 and July 2023, when the state added more than 100,000 residents.
That concentration shows where much of the state’s new momentum is happening. Urban and fast-growing regional centers, including Columbia and Greenville, have benefited from expanding healthcare and technology sectors, giving workers more reasons to consider South Carolina as a long-term home.
The state’s rise also fits into a wider national shift. Taxpayers and workers have increasingly moved away from high-cost, high-tax states and toward places viewed as more affordable or business-friendly. New analysis from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, based on IRS tax filing information from 2022, found that states such as Texas and Florida remain major destinations, while North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee continue gaining ground.
