Town of Summerville Planning Area - BCD Council of Governments

70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%Figure P8: Summerville Residents ThatAttended Some College45%57%59%1980 1990 2000Source: 1980, 1990, & 2000 Census35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%Figure P9: Summerville Residents ThatDid Not Graduate High School31%18%14%1980 1990 2000Source: 1980, 1990, & 2000 CensusTrends in the educational attainment of Summerville residents are displayed above in Figures P8 and P9. Thepercentage of Summerville residents not attaining a high school diploma has been on a steady decline since the1980’s, and the percentage of those going on to achieve a college education, on a steady incline. Whencompared to Dorchester County in 2000, Summerville had a higher percentage of residents going on to collegeand a lower percentage of residents not graduating high school.Income Trends & CharacteristicsAccording to the US Census, household income is the sum of money income received within one calendar yearby all household members 15 years and over. Household members include all related and/or unrelatedmembers living in one household. Income may include earned wage or salary income, and supplemental incomeof any kind (such as social security, disability, or public assistance income). Median Household Income then, isthe number (income) at which 50% of households earn more than and 50% of households earn less than. In2000, the median household income in Summerville was $43,635, a 28% increase over the Town’s 1990 medianhousehold income.Figure P10: Median Household Income Comparison, 2000$50,000$45,000$40,000$35,000$30,000$25,000$20,000$15,000$10,000$5,000$0$43,635$32,639$24,651$43,316$37,082$41,994Summerville Ridgeville St. George DorchesterCountySouthCarolinaUnitedStatesSource: 2000 US CensusThis median is high when compared to other municipalities in Dorchester County, and is also above the County,State and National medians. This relatively high median income suggests Summerville’s status as the economichub of Dorchester County.Population Element Page 4