City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Bethune, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bethune - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

421
Residents
$42,656
Median income
$96,400
Median home
$1,009
Median rent (state)

Bethune - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Bethune places in the 10th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

10th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
20th
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: Bethune, SC

421 people live in Bethune, South Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Bethune households earn a median of $42,656 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 38.0%. Bethune's housing stock carries a median value of $96,400, and the median resident age is 38.0 years. Educational attainment runs 21.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,009 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 66.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

421 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$42,656 /yr

Poverty 38.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Bethune compare to other US cities?

Where Bethune sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Bethune's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

10thIncome percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bethune's home value compares nationally

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

$96,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Bethune $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bethune, SC Bethune, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bethune, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bethune, SC median $42,656/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%
Bethune, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bethune, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 38.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.4%

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

Population
421
Median Income
$42,656
Median Home Value
$96,400
Median Age
38.0
Poverty Rate
38.0%
Labor force participation
39.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
300 residents310 residents320 residents330 residents340 residents350 residents 202020212022202320242025 310 residents 339 residents ▲ +9.4%
Bethune's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.2%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.0%

Based on 135 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bethune sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,009/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Converse
424 people
Startex
417 people
Alcolu
426 people
Ehrhardt
416 people
Hemingway
413 people
Lockhart
411 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethune's 421 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Thomaston, AL
421 people
Rio Oso, CA
421 people
Larwill, IN
421 people
Baxterville, MS
421 people
Stockton, NJ
421 people
Elmora, PA
421 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bethune's $42,656 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Yreka, CA
$42,664 median income
Platteville, WI
$42,667 median income
Pink Hill, NC
$42,670 median income
Van Horn, TX
$42,672 median income
Geraldine, MT
$42,639 median income
Adwolf, VA
$42,639 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bethune, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bethune, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.8% 11.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.2% White 80.8% Black or African American 5.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 11.2% Two or more races 1.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bethune compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bethune (this city) 421 $42,656
Converse 424 $50,139
Startex 417 N/A
Alcolu 426 $41,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bethune, SC?

What is the population of Bethune, SC? +

421 people live in Bethune, SC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bethune, SC? +

In Bethune, the typical household earns $42,656 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bethune? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bethune; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bethune, SC? +

Homes in Bethune carry a median value of $96,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.