Centenary, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 191, Centenary'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

Centenary is a small community located in South Carolina, within Marion County. The total population is 191. It ranks as the 413th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Centenary is 52.2 years. This is 30% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 24.1% 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 Centenary is $13,668. This is 80% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 83% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 63.9%. This is 354% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Centenary, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $154,200. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 11.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 40.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Centenary is Black or African American, making up 56.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 43.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (56.5% vs 24.6%).

Education

0.0% 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. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 74.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Centenary, 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.