Bethune, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 438, Bethune's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bethune is a small community located in South Carolina, within Kershaw County. The total population is 438. It ranks as the 348th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bethune is 41.7 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bethune is $44,000. This is 37% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 34.0%. This is 142% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. 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 6.5%. This is 34% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $106,800. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Bethune is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bethune is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.0%. The Black or African American population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 24.6%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

21.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bethune, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.