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Ninety Six, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.2x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ninety Six, South Carolina had a total population of 2,521, the 169th largest town in South Carolina, with a median household income of $55,417, which is 20% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 22.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Ninety Six Quick Facts

Population 2,521
Median Household Income $55,417
Median Home Value $121,000
Poverty Rate 22.6%
Unemployment Rate 7.2%
Median Age 40.0 years
Homeownership Rate 68.6%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.9%
High School Graduation Rate 92.2%
Diversity Index 39/100
Population 2,521 169th of 474
Median Income $55,417 average
Poverty Rate 22.6% 82% higher than national
Median Home Value $121,000 below average

How Ninety Six Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population2,6352,521-4.3%
Median household income$53,438$55,417+3.7%
Median home value$114,000$121,000+6.1%

How Ninety Six Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.2%
$25K-$50K 16.8%
$50K-$100K 34.7%
$100K+ 23.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.9%
$10K-$15K
2.8%
$15K-$20K
3.6%
$20K-$25K
9.9%
$25K-$30K
2.1%
$30K-$35K
2.7%
$35K-$40K
4.3%
$40K-$45K
3.2%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
11.6%
$60K-$75K
12.8%
$75K-$100K
10.3%
$100K-$125K
5.7%
$125K-$150K
10.8%
$150K-$200K
4.5%
$200K+
2.3%

Employment

7.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
56.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.6%
Renter 31.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $845/mo 18.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

39out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Ninety Six Rankings in South Carolina

#169 Population of 474
#195 Median Income of 417
#161 Education of 473
#287 Home Value of 414

Other Cities in Greenwood County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Greenwood 22,536 $41,150 21.6% $136,300
Ware Shoals 2,074 $36,622 38.2% $82,000
Cokesbury 267 N/A 0.0% $75,200
Hodges 193 $60,750 23.3% $145,800
Troy 177 $48,250 17.5% N/A
Promised Land 143 $44,293 15.4% $87,400
Bradley 90 N/A 33.3% N/A
Coronaca 37 N/A 100.0% N/A

Cities Similar to Ninety Six

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Varnville2,571$55,714$115,80023.3%14.4%
Gloverville2,505$52,197$89,80016.0%15.6%
Privateer2,472$49,191$121,1008.5%20.5%
Ben Avon2,487$47,489$211,30030.5%20.3%
Arkwright2,816$53,519$164,1009.2%23.6%

Population Overview

Ninety Six is a small community located in South Carolina, within Greenwood County. The total population is 2,521. It ranks as the 169th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ninety Six is 40.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years. With 31.5% of the population under 18, Ninety Six has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ninety Six is $55,417. This is 20% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.6%. This is 61% 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 7.2%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $121,000. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Ninety Six is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ninety Six is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

23.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% 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 92.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ninety Six, 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.

Free data download: Get all South Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ninety Six, South Carolina?

Ninety Six, South Carolina has a population of 2,521 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Ninety Six, SC?

The median household income in Ninety Six is $55,417, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Ninety Six, SC?

The poverty rate in Ninety Six is 22.6%. This means approximately 569 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Ninety Six, South Carolina?

Ninety Six's population is 74.6% White, 22.4% Black, 0.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Ninety Six, SC?

The median home value in Ninety Six is $121,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.

How educated is Ninety Six, South Carolina?

23.9% of adults (25+) in Ninety Six hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.