Barnwell County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Barnwell County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 20,565. It is the 39th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnwell County is 40.7 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barnwell County is $41,800. This is 37% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 47% lower. The poverty rate stands at 28.5%. This is 101% 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 7.2%. This is 45% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $97,200. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Barnwell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Barnwell County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 50.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 43.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (43.1% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% 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 80.8%.