1st Advantage MortgageRenters in Barnwell County pay a median of $740 a month, and the median home is valued at $106,000. Borrow only for a defined cost, compare APR and dollar fees on at least three offers, and never pay an upfront fee to a lender, licensed in South Carolina or not.
On this page
- Key figures
- Paychecks in Barnwell County
- Who lives in Barnwell County
- Budget math at the median in Barnwell County
- What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Barnwell County
- How Barnwell County compares
- Barnwell County in brief
- Checklist for Barnwell County borrowers
- How Barnwell County's population is spread
- Types of housing in Barnwell County
- Eight income bands for Barnwell County
- Carolina counties near Barnwell County
- Ranking Barnwell County against other South Carolina counties
- Frequently asked questions
Key figures
Source: Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024, for Barnwell County. Estimates carry margins of error, and your own income, credit and debts decide what a lender offers.
Paychecks in Barnwell County
The Census Bureau's industry counts show where Barnwell County residents earn a living: education and health care employs 19% of workers, manufacturing 14% and arts, entertainment, lodging and food service 11%. Relative to the rest of our Carolina county set, Barnwell County is heavier in transportation, warehousing and utilities (9% against 6%). If your pay varies from month to month, plan the payment around the leaner months and keep a small buffer.
Break Barnwell County households into income groups and 39% fall below $35,000, 40% land between $35,000 and $100,000, and 22% reach $100,000 or beyond. Barnwell County trails the typical place in our set by 4.8 points at the top of the scale and exceeds it by 9.7 at the bottom.
Who lives in Barnwell County
A bachelor's degree or more is held by 14% of Barnwell County adults aged 25 and up, and the median age is 40.4. That makes Barnwell County 1.9 years younger than the middle place in our Carolina county set, with a degree share 10 points lower.
The housing stock in Barnwell County breaks down as 58% detached houses, 3% apartments in larger buildings and 33% mobile homes, per the ACS. That is -9 points against the Carolina county median on detached houses and -1 on large buildings.
Budget math at the median in Barnwell County
Before taxes, the median Barnwell County household takes in about $3,886 a month. Typical rent of $740 is 19% of it, compared with the 30% rule of thumb of $1,166. Many lenders also look at total monthly debt payments as a share of gross income; 36% is a widely cited benchmark, worth about $1,399 a month at the median, though each lender sets its own limit. Home prices sit near 2.3x the median household's annual income. Taxes, insurance, transport and food come out of the same paycheck, so the room left over is smaller than the percentages suggest.
What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Barnwell County
Homes in Barnwell County cost 2.3 times median income ($106,000 against $46,626), low for our Carolina county set. That leaves owners more flexibility to pay debt off early.
Few Barnwell County workers work from home (4%), so most pay stubs come from on-site employers, which keeps verification simple.
Unemployment in Barnwell County runs 7.0% by the American Community Survey, in the upper third of our Carolina county set. If work is uncertain, borrow less and read the lender's hardship terms.
How Barnwell County compares
Line Barnwell County up with the other 146 Carolina county places and you see a median household income of $46,626 (127th highest of 146), a median gross rent of $740 (133rd highest of 146), and a median home value of $106,000 (136th highest of 146). Ranks like these are a snapshot that changes each release.
Two comparable South Carolina places in our set are Fairfield County ($47,885 income, $938 rent), where Barnwell County runs 3% below on income and 21% below on rent and Saluda County ($51,009 income, $851 rent), where Barnwell County runs 9% below on income and 13% below on rent. Compare the same four numbers on every offer wherever you live.
Barnwell County in brief
Barnwell County takes in 7 Census places, 7 of them incorporated towns or cities; the largest are Barnwell, Williston, Blackville, Hilda. Everyone in Barnwell County, from Hilda to Barnwell, is covered by this guide.
Checklist for Barnwell County borrowers
- License check for Barnwell County borrowers: South Carolina's Commissioner of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders.
- Keep every document in one folder: disclosure, agreement, payment confirmations.
- Ask about early payoff. Most personal loans have no penalty, but confirm in writing.
- Line up three offers for Barnwell County and compare APR, fees and total repayment in the side-by-side calculator.
- Try the free routes first: a credit union, a hardship plan or a nonprofit counselor may beat any loan (free options).
How Barnwell County's population is spread
The 2024 Census place list for Barnwell County has 7 entries: 7 towns or cities with their own government and 0 unincorporated CDPs. Median home values run from $80,400 in Blackville to $145,300 in Barnwell (places of 1,000+ people).
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell | incorporated city | 4,613 | 22.5% | $145,300 |
| Williston | incorporated town | 2,870 | 14.0% | $105,100 |
| Blackville | incorporated town | 1,778 | 8.7% | $80,400 |
| Hilda | incorporated town | 468 | 2.3% | $64,600 |
| Elko | incorporated town | 296 | 1.4% | $85,500 |
| Snelling | incorporated town | 219 | 1.1% | $64,400 |
| Kline | incorporated town | 154 | 0.8% | $104,700 |
Types of housing in Barnwell County
Compared with South Carolina overall, Barnwell County has more mobile homes (33% vs 14%) and fewer detached houses (58% vs 65%). With 33% of units manufactured, many Barnwell County owners cannot use home-equity products, so an unsecured loan is the main comparison.
| Structure type | Barnwell County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 58.4% | -6.1 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 0.8% | -2.8 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 4.3% | -0.2 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 2.4% | -4.9 pts |
| 20 or more units | 1.0% | -4.6 pts |
| Mobile home | 32.8% | +18.6 pts |
Eight income bands for Barnwell County
31% of Barnwell County households earn less than $25,000 a year, against 17% across South Carolina; 22% earn $100,000 or more. The 22% of households above $100,000 are not immune: big incomes often come with big fixed costs.
| Household income | Barnwell County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 19.5% | +9.8 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 11.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 7.8% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13.7% | +1.8 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.4% | -3.7 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 12.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 14.1% | -2.3 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 7.5% | -9.3 pts |
Carolina counties near Barnwell County
The five closest Carolina counties to Barnwell County, by distance between county centers. Allendale County is the oldest of them (median age 44.7) and Aiken County has the largest share of college graduates (32%).
| County | How far | People | Median age | Degree holders | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell County | - | 20,521 | 40.4 | 14% | 25% |
| Allendale County, SC | 20 mi | 7,661 | 44.7 | 14% | 28% |
| Bamberg County, SC | 22 mi | 13,042 | 42.3 | 18% | 24% |
| Aiken County, SC | 23 mi | 174,160 | 42.0 | 32% | 14% |
| Hampton County, SC | 37 mi | 18,254 | 40.9 | 12% | 21% |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 38 mi | 83,253 | 40.7 | 19% | 22% |
Ranking Barnwell County against other South Carolina counties
Barnwell County ranks furthest from the middle of South Carolina on poverty and college degrees, then car-free households.
- Poverty puts Barnwell County at #5 of 46 among South Carolina counties (25.0%). Assistance programs should come before credit.
- College degrees puts Barnwell County at #6 lowest of 46 among South Carolina counties (14%). Lenders weigh income, not diplomas.
- Barnwell County: 10.6% for car-free households, #6 of 46 in South Carolina. Transit and ride costs belong in the budget.
- Barnwell County: 32.8% for mobile homes, #7 of 46 in South Carolina. Manufactured homes often rule out equity loans.
| Where it stands out | Value | South Carolina rank | Carolina median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty | 25.0% | #5 of 46 | 15.4% |
| College degrees | 14% | #6 lowest of 46 | 24% |
| Car-free households | 10.6% | #6 of 46 | 5.8% |
| Mobile homes | 32.8% | #7 of 46 | 19.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is Barnwell County housing expensive relative to income?
Yes by this measure: a $106,000 median home value is about 2.3 times the $46,626 median income. That leaves less room for new payments.
Does my Barnwell County ZIP code matter to the check?
No. A Barnwell County applicant answers the same short questionnaire as anyone in South Carolina; amount, credit range, income and payments are the only inputs.
Who regulates personal lenders in South Carolina?
South Carolina splits the job: the Commissioner of Consumer Finance licenses lenders serving Barnwell County, and the Department of Consumer Affairs handles general consumer issues.
What slows down a loan for a Barnwell County applicant?
Usually verification: income documents, identity checks and bank details. Having pay stubs or benefit letters ready is the fastest fix.