Everyone knows that towns in the Upstate have been growing like weeds. Now the U.S. Census recently released data shows exactly how fast — and several Greenville County towns are growing among the most in the state, and even the whole nation. 

The data, released May 14, regards population changes between 2023 and 2024 and shows that cities in the South had the highest average population growth of any region — 1.6% for cities with a population between 5000 and 49,999 residents.

GREENVILLE

The City of Greenville grew by 1.37% between 2023 and 2024, growing from 73,368 residents to 74,371 in that time. Many residents might argue that it feels like there’s been much more growth, and they’d be right, at least when it comes to the last several year’s trends. 

Since 2020, Greenville grew 4.12%, and was just outside the top 500 cities for total growth in the whole United States. 

Housing

Greenville County also added the second most housing units of any county across the state, adding 4,260 units for a 1.75% growth rate. That’s only behind Horry County in terms of growth, which added 6,526 housing units for a 2.91% growth rate for the year. 

As a percentage, Pickens and Spartanburg County both grew more than Greenville, with rates of 1.81% and 1.99%, respectively between 2023 and 2024. Pickens County added 1,086 housing units in that time, with Spartanburg County adding 2,937 units. 

Over the last four years, Greenville County added a total of 25,838 housing units, which was also the second most in the state since 2020, second again only to Horry County. 

Spartanburg County ranked fifth in the state over that same period, adding 12,577 housing units 

Three South Carolina counties were among the top 100 in housing unit growth by percentage in the whole country. Jasper County led the nation with a 8.4% housing unit growth in the last year, with Berkeley County ranking 66th in the nation at 2.9%, and Horry County ranking 70th, also at 2.9%.

GREER

Between 2023 and 2024, the City of Greer grew 4.08%, going from 44,502 residents to 46,316 in that time. However, between 2020 and 2024, the city grew a whopping 29%, making it the 37th most in the whole nation over that span by percentage. 

Greer was also 65th in the country in total population growth since 2020, adding 10,487 residents from its 35,829 baseline five years ago. Since 2020, Greer has been the second fastest growing city in South Carolina by total population, adding 10,487 residents in four years, only behind Fort Mill with 11,040 new residents in that time. 

MAULDIN

The City of Mauldin grew by 5.8% from 2023 to 2024,the 49th highest jump in growth in the entire nation and eighth most in South Carolina. During that time the city went from 28,113 residents to 29,746 residents.

Between 2020 and 2024, the city grew 20% from 24,786 to 28,113 residents, ranking it the 61st fastest growing city in the country in that span, among cities with more than 20,000 residents.

SIMPSONVILLE

Simpsonville grew by 1.7% from 2023 to 2024, however it was one of the fastest growing in the state since 2020. Between 2020 and 2024 the city grew 18.9%, adding 4,473 residents in that time, bringing their population to 28,078 and making Simpsonville the 12th fastest growing city in South Carolina in that time. 

EASLEY

From 2023 to 2024, Easley grew by 1.9%, going from 26,496 residents to 27,001 in that time. Since 2020, the city grew 17.2% when it had 23,034 residents, making it the 15th fastest growing city in South Carolina over that period.  

FOUNTAIN INN

Fountain Inn grew by 5.66% from 2023 to 2024, bringing the city to 13,786 residents. The jump was even greater since 2020, as the city grew by 3,274 residents or 31.15% — the 7th most in the state over that four-year period.  

City	2024 population	Growth from 2023 (TOT)	Growth from 2023 (%)	Growth from 2020 (TOT)	Growth from 2020 (%)
Greenville	74,371	1,003	1.37%	2,943	4.12%
Greer	46,316	1,814	4.08%	10,487	29.27%
Easley	27,001	505	1.91%	3,967	17.22%
Simpsonville	28,078	473	1.71%	4,473	18.95%
Fountain Inn	13,786	738	5.66%	3,274	31.15%
Mauldin	29,746	1,633	5.81%	4,960	20.01%