1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Barnwell County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $46,626. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Barnwell County in brief
- How Barnwell County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Barnwell County
- Barnwell County against other South Carolina counties
- Where Barnwell County households live
- Regional comparison for Barnwell County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Barnwell County
- Who lives in Barnwell County, in numbers
- Debt-to-income, Barnwell County edition
- Borrowing situations common in Barnwell County
- Before you sign
- Verifying a lender from Barnwell County
- Beyond Barnwell County
- Frequently asked questions
Barnwell County in brief
Barnwell County is home to about 20,521 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. Density: about 37.4 residents per square mile across 548 square miles of land. No metropolitan area includes Barnwell County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Barnwell is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 4,613 people (22% of the county total).
How Barnwell County residents earn a living
Education and health care (19%), manufacturing (14%) and arts, lodging and food service (11%) lead Barnwell County's job mix. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (9% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 32% of Barnwell County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 20% need 45 or more. Only 10.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Barnwell County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.1% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.3% | -2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Barnwell County
The median household income in Barnwell County is $46,626; statewide it is $69,324, so Barnwell County runs 33% below South Carolina as a whole. In the state ranking that is 36th of 46.
| Household income | Barnwell County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.8% | +14.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.4% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -4.6 pts |
Six-figure households (22%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (39%) in Barnwell County. Census counts 25.0% of Barnwell County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Barnwell County against other South Carolina counties
The 3 Barnwell County numbers that rank furthest from typical in South Carolina, and what each means for a borrower:
- Barnwell County ranks 5th highest of 46 South Carolina counties for the poverty rate: 25.0%, against 14.1% statewide. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 14% in Barnwell County. Only 5 of 46 South Carolina counties are lower. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
- Barnwell County ranks 6th highest of 46 South Carolina counties for households without a vehicle: 10.6%, against 5.7% statewide. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
Where Barnwell County households live
$740 a month is the median gross rent in Barnwell County, 37% below the state. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Barnwell County homes are worth $106,000 at the median, a 2.3-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%. Median construction year: 1983.
| Home costs | Barnwell County | South Carolina | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,000 | $259,000 | 59% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | -5.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 18% | 13% | +4.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $740/mo | $1,180/mo | 37% lower |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | +3.1 pts |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | -0.9 pts |
Regional comparison for Barnwell County
Distances run center to center, from Allendale County at 20 miles out to Hampton County at 37. Income ranges from $32,328 in Allendale County to $70,609 in Aiken County; 3 of these neighbors top Barnwell County's median. The list crosses into Georgia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell County | - | $46,626 | $740/mo | 71% |
| Allendale County, SC | 20 mi | $32,328 | $662/mo | 62% |
| Bamberg County, SC | 22 mi | $44,370 | $815/mo | 70% |
| Aiken County, SC | 23 mi | $70,609 | $1,062/mo | 77% |
| Burke County, GA | 36 mi | $53,014 | $758/mo | 70% |
| Screven County, GA | 37 mi | $52,792 | $679/mo | 70% |
| Hampton County, SC | 37 mi | $44,711 | $843/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Barnwell County
10,398 of Barnwell County's 20,521 residents live in its 7 Census places (51%); the 7 largest are listed. Barnwell has the highest median household income on the list ($52,006) and Blackville the lowest ($21,742), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Barnwell County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell | city | 4,613 | $52,006 | $678 | 4 mi |
| Williston | town | 2,870 | $39,484 | $677 | 10 mi |
| Blackville | town | 1,778 | $21,742 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hilda | town | 468 | $44,861 | $771 | 11 mi |
| Elko | town | 296 | $40,278 | $1,571 | 9 mi |
| Snelling | town | 219 | $51,500 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Kline | town | 154 | n/a | $1,042 | 11 mi |
Who lives in Barnwell County, in numbers
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. Uninsured, Barnwell County: 12.2%; South Carolina: 9.6%.
| Barnwell County | vs South Carolina | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | -18.2 pts | -8.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | +10.9 pts | +11.8 pts |
| Work from home | 4.2% | -7.3 pts | -4.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 16.1% | +6.2 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 10.6% | +4.8 pts | +5.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | +2.6 pts | +4.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | +2.2 pts | +2.6 pts |
| Median age | 40.4 | +0.2 yrs | -1.1 yrs |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 11.7% |
Debt-to-income, Barnwell County edition
DTI math using Barnwell County medians ($46,626 income, $740 rent):
- $3,886 a month: gross income for a household at the Barnwell County median
- Housing at the median rent of $740 uses 19%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,399 total minus rent leaves $659
- $931: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $740, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Barnwell County
A few patterns in the Barnwell County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 12% of Barnwell County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 33% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Help that costs nothing. About 5,132 Barnwell County residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Verifying a lender from Barnwell County
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's South Carolina license. For consumer-credit complaints, South Carolina residents can also contact the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The South Carolina page has statewide figures to set beside Barnwell County's.
Beyond Barnwell County
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Barnwell County?
$46,626 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,324 for South Carolina. It ranks 36th of 46 in the state.
Can a Barnwell County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $740 median rent and $3,886 median monthly income, rent alone uses 19%; add other debts before a new payment.
Does this page cover Barnwell?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Barnwell County, such as Williston, Blackville, Hilda.
Does living in Barnwell County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Barnwell County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Barnwell County?
Look it up with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.