Ridgeland: Economy & Jobs
Households in Ridgeland earn a median $62,981 (about the same as Jasper County median $65,613; 1.1× below South Carolina median $69,324), with homes at a median value of $228,400. The surrounding county supports 71,044 jobs (avg $54,768).
- $116,088 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs South Carolina $75,428).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $62,981 — below the South Carolina median ($66,299). Poverty rate 26.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 22% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 17.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 22.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 26.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $98,680 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $11,455,586 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $116,088 (vs South Carolina $75,428) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $80,931 |
| Median Household Income | $62,981 (vs South Carolina $66,299) |
| Poverty Rate | 26.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Professional |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $62,981 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.2% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 1% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 30.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 1.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 71,044 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $3,890,961,931 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $54,768 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.2% (vs South Carolina 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 101 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 36,074 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 357.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Vegetable Totals, Animal Totals, Grain, Equine |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 6,030 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 57,611 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 2,570,856 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 35 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 31 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 56 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 26 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 37 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 286 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 149 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 10 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 47 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (3)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Nouria 8250 Main Street 829 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 19 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | JASPER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILSON ST |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $1,926,133,193 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 10,293.74 (vs South Carolina $7,873) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 187,117 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 71.4% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 1.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 32.7 years (vs South Carolina 36.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 13.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 3 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12