BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – If you’ve lived in Berkeley County for any stretch of time, you’ve probably felt the difference: more traffic, new neighborhoods, and bustling businesses popping up everywhere. Now, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau confirms what locals already know: Berkeley County is booming.
Between 2023 and 2024, Berkeley County saw its resident population surge by 3.2%, making it the second fastest-growing county in South Carolina. As of July 2024, 264,276 residents currently call Berkeley County home.
Only Horry County outpaced Berkeley in South Carolina, growing at 3.8% during the same time frame. The population boom is part of a broader trend, with the Palmetto State welcoming 91,000 new residents last year — a 1.7% jump.
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Berkeley County also has the eighth largest resident population of the 46 counties that make up the Palmetto State. Greenville County takes the No. 1 spot with 570,745 people calling the area home.
Growth Spurt Decade
Berkeley County’s growth isn’t new. Since 2010, the county has ballooned by nearly 49% — up from 177,843 to over 264,000. And the pandemic? It barely put a dent in that momentum. From 2020 to 2024, more than 34,000 people moved to the area, seeking fewer restrictions, a better quality of life, and affordability.
Every Town Is Growing
Every incorporated city and town in Berkeley County saw growth, but one town led the pack by a mile:
| CITY/TOWN (INCORPORATED PLACES) | POPULATION ESTIMATE (July 2024) | PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2023 |
| Bonneau | 433 | 0.7% |
| St. Stephen | 1,592 | 0.3% |
| Jamestown | 73 | 1.4% |
| Moncks Corner | 18,359 | 10.2% |
| Goose Creek | 50,352 | 1.9% |
| Hanahan | 21,983 | 0.7% |
At 10.2 percent, Moncks Corner’s double-digit growth in just one year marks it as a major magnet for new residents.
Where Berkeley Stands in the State
Here’s where Berkeley sits among South Carolina’s 10 fastest-growing counties (by percentage increase from 2023 to 2024):
| Rank | County | % Growth | 2024 Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horry | 3.8% | 413,391 |
| 2 | Berkeley | 3.2% | 264,276 |
| 3 | Spartanburg | 2.9% | 369,256 |
| 4 | York | 1.6% | 303,001 |
| 5 | Lexington | 1.3% | 313,774 |
| 6 | Richland | 1.3% | 430,651 |
| 7 | Charleston | 1.2% | 431,001 |
| 8 | Anderson | 1.5% | 217,183 |
| 9 | Beaufort | 1.4% | 201,775 |
| 10 | Greenville | 2.0% | 570,745 |
Not All Counties Are Growing
While most counties are seeing growth, 11 counties in South Carolina lost population. They are:
| COUNTIES | POPULATION ESTIMATE (July 2024) | PERCENT DECREASE FROM 2023 |
| Allendale County | 7,551 | 0.6% |
| Bamberg County | 12,870 | 0.9% |
| Cherokee County | 57,770 | 1.4% |
| Clarendon County | 31,030 | 0.3% |
| Dillon County | 27,577 | 0.5% |
| Fairfield County | 20,369 | 0.1% |
| Marion County | 28,368 | 0.5% |
| Marlboro County | 25,498 | 1.0% |
| Orangeburg County | 83,129 | 0.02% |
| Union County | 26,678 | 0.3% |
| Williamsburg County | 29,865 | 0.5% |
These counties tend to be more rural and already have the lowest population numbers in the state.
A National Trend
South Carolina isn’t alone in its growth. The U.S. Census Bureau noted that cities in all regions (except for small Southern towns) saw faster growth than the previous year.
“Cities in the Northeast that had experienced population declines in 2023 are now experiencing significant growth,” said Crystal Delbé, a Census Bureau statistician.
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In short, big shifts are happening across the country — but here in Berkeley County, the direction is clear: up and to the right.
