Upstate South Carolina

Upstate SC

Discover what's different about the place we call home.


Located just between Atlanta and Charlotte, Upstate South Carolina is home to 575 international firms from 35 different countries. These include notable manufacturing, robotic, software, and automobile firms such as BMW, Michelin, Siemens, and General Electric, among others. With more than $30 billion in capital investment and over 85 thousand jobs since 2007, it’s no surprise that during the last five years, there were 140 announcements from new or expanding companies in the Upstate area.

  • Population: 1.56 million
  • Average Household Income: $55,422

Upstate South Carolina lies at the heart of one of America’s fastest-growing megaregions. With a cost of living 8.5% lower than the national average, coupled with the “can-do” cooperative spirit offered by state and local governments, you can see why the Upstate's population grows by 79 people daily. This is also why the Upstate ranks in the Top Ten places to live, raise a family, and start a business.

Consider expanding your business in Upstate South Carolina. You can take advantage of new markets, lower your operation costs, find a better workforce, and position your company for future long-term growth.

The Upstate is home to 26 universities and colleges with more than 23,000+ graduating into the workforce each year. There are 10 private sector and major university research facilities, including Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research.

Better for business

South Carolina population growth keeps trending upward.

According to the 2020 Census, South Carolina’s population reached 5.1 million, up by 10.7% from the 2010 census. Between April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 South Carolina enjoyed a growth rate of 3.2%, which ranks 5th in the nation and 2nd on the east coast.

1 - Greenville County

2021 – 535,486
2026 – 575,020

2 - Spartanburg County

2021 – 331,427
2026 – 354,621

3 - Cherokee County

2021 – 57,965
2026 – 59,228

4 - Union County

2021 – 28,050
2026 – 27,639

5 - Laurens County

2021 – 69,801
2026 – 71,270

6 - Greenwood County

2021 – 72,087
2026 – 73,514

7 - Abbeville County

2021 – 25,799
2026 – 26,013

8 - Anderson County

2021 – 209,968
2026 – 221,069

9 - Pickens County

2021 – 130,793
2026 – 136,321

10 - Oconee County

2021 – 82,771
2026 – 86,334

Get Started Today

You know your business better than anyone, just as we know ours.

At KDS, our brokers and advisors take the time to learn about your needs, hear about your goals and align your vision with your very best options, because being invested in the community means investing in you.

With over 100 years of combined leadership experience, we have the tools, resources, and insight of the Upstate market to offer you a wide range of commercial real estate services that are tailored to your business. Whether you’re looking for advice on a development, or are ready to make a sound commercial real estate investment, we provide the analysis and answers you need to build it without looking back.

If you're ready to get started, fill our the form on this page or give us a call today at 864-242-4200.