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COUNTY

Barnwell County

South Carolina · 20,653 residents (2025 est.) · 548.379 sq mi
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The short version

Barnwell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,626. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $106,000. The poverty rate of 25.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,521
−13%since 2000
from 23,478 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
37 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 42 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+14%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,653 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K22K23K24K1990201020202024Barnwell County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(1,347)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(1,295)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(1,404)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(1,324)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(1,096)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.7%(2,408)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(2,595)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(2,363)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.5%(2,762)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(2,379)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(1,190)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(358)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,626
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,591 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,139
+77%since 2000
from $15,870 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.1%
+16.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
+6%since 2010
from 0.466 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Information8.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services4.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,000
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$740
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
29.1% rent
Vacancy rate
18.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 37.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+17%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
19
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Barnwell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic54.8%(12,857)
Black42.4%(9,957)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(327)
Asian0.4%(89)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic50.5%(10,367)
Black42.8%(8,776)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(595)
Asian0.6%(120)
Other3.2%(663)
Diversity Score
70
+8%since 2009
from 65 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−16%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.7%(359)
Spaniard0.7%(138)
Costa Rican0.2%(41)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Argentine0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(46)
Asian Indian0.2%(35)
Thai0.1%(22)
Filipino0.1%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American18.5%(3,806)
English5.5%(1,134)
Irish3%(618)
German3%(614)
Scottish1.4%(287)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(190)
Italian0.7%(146)
French0.4%(72)
Polish0.3%(66)
Kenyan0.3%(64)
Swiss0.3%(55)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.2%(45)
Welsh0.1%(30)
Ghanaian0.1%(22)
Swedish0.1%(20)
Arab0.1%(19)
British0.1%(19)
Ukrainian0.1%(18)
Portuguese0.1%(14)
Finnish0.1%(13)
Lebanese0.1%(11)
Russian0.1%(11)
Hungarian0%(10)
Greek0%(9)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.9%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 67.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.2 min
+38%since 2000
from 19.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−8.0 ptssince 2011
from 15.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 55.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.2%
−33.0 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 20.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.2%
−72.4 ptssince 2013
from 84.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.2%
+20.6 ptssince 2017
from 54.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.3%(3,222)
Married44.9%(3,509)
Widowed4.9%(381)
Divorced8.9%(696)
Women 15+
Never married30.6%(2,651)
Married42.4%(3,679)
Widowed15.8%(1,369)
Divorced11.2%(968)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Barnwell County to nearby counties

BARNWELL COUNTY VS
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Income$32,328−31%
Home value$76,200−28%
Population7,355−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BARNWELL COUNTY VS
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Income$44,370−5%
Home value$97,800−8%
Population12,796−38%
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BARNWELL COUNTY VS
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Income$70,609+51%
Home value$218,000+106%
Population181,515+779%
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BARNWELL COUNTY VS
Burke County
Income$53,014+14%
Home value$151,600+43%
Population24,408+18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Barnwell County, South Carolina?

Barnwell County, South Carolina has about 20,521 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Barnwell County, South Carolina?

The typical household in Barnwell County, South Carolina earns about $46,626 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Barnwell County, South Carolina expensive?

In Barnwell County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $106,000, and the typical rent is about $740 a month.

How educated are people in Barnwell County, South Carolina?

About 13.9% of adults age 25 and over in Barnwell County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Barnwell County, South Carolina?

About 25.0% of people in Barnwell County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Barnwell County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Barnwell County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 228 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9704.02Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9701.02Census Tract 9701.01Census Tract 9704.01Census Tract 9801
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 29812ZIP 29853ZIP 29817ZIP 29826
Up the hierarchy
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →