City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Alcolu, SC

Alcolu's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

426
Residents
$41,917
Median income
$166,400
Median home
$1,155
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Alcolu, SC - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Alcolu.

Place dossier plate

Sheet SC-ALCOLU-SC · Alcolu, SC 426 pop · income 9th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 426
  • INC-LOW $41,917
  • COL-BELOW 93.7
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 9th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Taylorsville
  • HOME-LOW $166,400
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Taylorsville, KY (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Alcolu

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Alcolu on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Alcolu on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 426.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $41,917. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Alcolu - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Alcolu lands in the 9th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
46th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Alcolu, SC

South Carolina's Alcolu is a small town, with 426 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Households in Alcolu report a median income of $41,917 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 35.2%. Alcolu's housing stock carries a median value of $166,400, and the median resident age is 21.8 years. 20.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Carolina scores 93.7 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,155 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 70.7 out of 100 (High).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Alcolu's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to comparison shortlist to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Alcolu, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, local building permits, within-city Census tract profiles, annual population history, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Alcolu?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 68.1%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Alcolu?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within South Carolina, the closest population matches are Converse (424 residents, $50,139 income); Bethune (421 residents, $42,656 income); Neeses (431 residents, $37,708 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Marshall, AK (426 residents); Fort Garland, CO (426 residents); Custer Park, IL (426 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Alcolu?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 4.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 35.2%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

426 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$41,917 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 35.2% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

City profile score · Alcolu, SC

27/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living B
93.7 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
20.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$41,917

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
35.2%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Alcolu profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate. Cost of livingBachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rate 27 F
Alcolu profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 70/100 (B) · 93.7 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 35/100 (F) · 20.3%
  • Household income: 9/100 (F) · $41,917
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 35.2%

How does Alcolu compare to other US cities?

Alcolu measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 46% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Alcolu against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Alcolu near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Alcolu ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Alcolu only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#278 of 403
31st percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#185 of 404
54th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#39 of 439
91st percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#193 of 441
56th percentile in South Carolina
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

9thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Alcolu's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$166,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Alcolu $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Alcolu's home-value-to-income ratio: 4.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#10,621 of 15,516
More affordable than 32% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#8,317 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 4.0×, Alcolu sits in the moderate band: national rank #10,621 of 15,516 and #8,317 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$41,917 Alcolu, SC median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Alcolu, SC Alcolu, SC's median household income ($41,917) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Alcolu, SC-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Alcolu, SC median $41,917/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Alcolu, SC median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Alcolu, SC.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 35.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
426
Median Income
$41,917
Median Home Value
$166,400
Median Age
21.8
Poverty Rate
35.2%
Labor force participation
56.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.1%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
28.1%

Based on 135 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

South Carolina statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $224

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across South Carolina at $224 (electricity about $130 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are South Carolina statewide averages, not a meter reading for Alcolu. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

South Carolina's BEA cost-of-living index is 93.7 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Alcolu is $1,155/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to South Carolina statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 70.7 / 100 (High).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a South Carolina statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Alcolu sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Alcolu compares to similar-size South Carolina cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Alcolu (this city) 426 $41,917
Converse 424 $50,139
Bethune 421 $42,656
Neeses 431 $37,708
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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