How old are the homes in Folly Beach, SC?

Name: Age of homes in Folly Beach, SC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

30.0% (±7.5 points) of the homes in Folly Beach, SC were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.7% were built before 1940.

6.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 30.0% (±7.5 points)
Built before 1940: 2.7%
Built 2010 or later: 6.3%

When the homes in Folly Beach were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Folly Beach	Charleston County	South Carolina	United States
2020 or later	2.4% (±2.2 points)	3.4%	3.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.9% (±2.3 points)	18.0%	14.8%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	21.2% (±6.1 points)	17.3%	18.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	23.3% (±5.8 points)	13.1%	16.2%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	19.2% (±5.5 points)	13.8%	14.3%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	2.3% (±1.9 points)	11.0%	12.7%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	6.5% (±4.1 points)	8.6%	7.9%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	8.3% (±3.4 points)	6.5%	6.0%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	10.2% (±4.5 points)	3.5%	2.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	2.7% (±2.1 points)	4.9%	3.6%	11.7%

In Folly Beach, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Charleston County (34.5%).

It is not measurably different from South Carolina (32.8%).

It is lower than the national figure (49.7%).

In Charleston County, Folly Beach ranks 11 of 16 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 299 of 381.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (27.7%) and the share built before 1980 (30.0%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Folly Beach

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Folly Beach
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Folly Beach	—	30.0% (±7.5 points)	—
James Island	4.8 mi	68.1% (±8.7 points)	Higher
Kiawah Island	6.9 mi	20.4% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Sullivan's Island	10 mi	49.5% (±11.1 points)	Higher
Charleston	11 mi	34.4% (±1.7 points)	Not measurably different
Mount Pleasant	11 mi	15.9% (±1.9 points)	Lower
Rockville	14 mi	59.1% (±26.4 points)	Higher
Seabrook Island	14 mi	24.6% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Hollywood	15 mi	18.1% (±6.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Kiawah Island, SC (20.4%), Mount Pleasant, SC (15.9%), Hollywood, SC (18.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: James Island, SC (68.1%), Sullivan's Island, SC (49.5%), Rockville, SC (59.1%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Charleston County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
5	Lincolnville	38.3% (±16.5 points)
6	Meggett	34.6% (±14.7 points)
7	Charleston	34.4% (±1.7 points)
8	North Charleston	32.1% (±2.3 points)
9	Ravenel	31.6% (±20.9 points)
10	Isle of Palms	30.1% (±5.9 points)
11	Folly Beach	30.0% (±7.5 points)
12	Awendaw	26.4% (±11.4 points)
13	Seabrook Island	24.6% (±5.7 points)
14	Kiawah Island	20.4% (±4.4 points)
15	Hollywood	18.1% (±6.5 points)
16	Mount Pleasant	15.9% (±1.9 points)

Showing 12 of 16 places in Charleston County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Folly Beach

How old are most homes in Folly Beach?

30.0% of homes in Folly Beach, SC were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Folly Beach need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 27.7% and 30.0% of homes in Folly Beach were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Folly Beach?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Folly Beach city, South Carolina (place:26035, in state:45).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.