Plum Branch, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 95, Plum Branch'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

Plum Branch is a small community located in South Carolina, within McCormick County. The total population is 95. It ranks as the 447th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Plum Branch is 56.3 years. This is 40% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 8.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 32.6%. This is 132% 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 5.7%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $209,100. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $259,000. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Plum Branch has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.7% vs 61.9%). The Black or African American population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 24.6%.

Education

49.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Plum Branch in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 54% higher 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 97.7%. Notably, 16.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Plum Branch, 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.