Tatum, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 80, Tatum'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

Tatum is a small community located in South Carolina, within Marlboro County. The total population is 80. It ranks as the 455th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tatum is 36.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 42.5% of the population under 18, Tatum has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tatum is $53,125. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.3%. This is 91% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 25.9%. This is 430% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $86,700. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Tatum is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tatum is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.7% of the population.

Education

2.2% 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 93% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tatum, 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.