Bamberg County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Bamberg County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 13,164. It is the 44th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bamberg County is 41.7 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bamberg County is $43,206. This is 35% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 45% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.6%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 11.9%. This is 140% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $96,000. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Bamberg County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bamberg County is Black or African American, making up 59.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (59.6% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 76.9%.