City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Cheraw, SC

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

5,024
Residents
$27,275
Median income
$113,400
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Cheraw - the verdict

Nationally, Cheraw sits in the 2nd percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

2nd
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
1st
percentile, safety
📝 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: Cheraw, SC

South Carolina's Cheraw is a small town, with 5,024 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Cheraw households earn a median of $27,275 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.8%. Typical homes in Cheraw are valued around $113,400, and the median resident age is 45.1 years. About 21.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 46.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Cheraw (Construction Slowdown), down 95% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Cheraw's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 8447.0 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 61.9°F with 48.6 inches of precipitation per year and 0.1 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Carolina at 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $902 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 74.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

5,024 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$27,275 /yr

Poverty 27.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Cheraw compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at South Carolina, Cheraw ranks #124 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Cheraw'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.

2ndIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cheraw's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cheraw's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Cheraw's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cheraw's home value compares nationally

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

$113,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Cheraw $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 - Cheraw, SC Cheraw, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cheraw, 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 Cheraw, SC median $27,275/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%
Cheraw, 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 Cheraw, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.9%

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

Population
5,024
Median Income
$27,275
Median Home Value
$113,400
Median Age
45.1
Poverty Rate
27.8%
Labor force participation
46.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
8447.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1163.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
7283.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
61.9°F
Annual Precipitation
48.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,900 residents4,950 residents5,000 residents5,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,999 residents 4,921 residents ▼ -1.6%
Cheraw's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 40
2020 5
2021 2
2022 4
2023 0
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 95% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.0%
Carpool
2.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.6%
Work from Home
1.1%
Other
10.7%

Based on 1,895 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 Cheraw sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$902/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Batesburg-Leesville
4,935 people
Abbeville
4,863 people
Chester
5,241 people
Central
5,299 people
Blythewood
5,309 people
Hollywood
5,330 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cheraw's 5,024 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kenneth City, FL
5,025 people
Wright City, MO
5,025 people
Lake City, MN
5,021 people
Ellisburg, NJ
5,021 people
Florence, NJ
5,027 people
Sawmills, NC
5,027 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cheraw's $27,275 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huntsville, TN
$27,266 median income
Prestonsburg, KY
$27,265 median income
Shellman, GA
$27,292 median income
Oak Level, VA
$27,292 median income
Henry, SD
$27,254 median income
Nicholls, GA
$27,297 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cheraw, 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 Cheraw, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 42.0% 53.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 42.0% Black or African American 53.4% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.1% 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 Cheraw 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
Cheraw (this city) 5,024 $27,275
Batesburg-Leesville 4,935 $53,102
Abbeville 4,863 $38,983
Chester 5,241 $41,231
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cheraw, SC?

What is the population of Cheraw, SC? +

The population of Cheraw, SC stands at 5,024 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Cheraw runs $27,275, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cheraw? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cheraw; 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.

Is Cheraw, SC safe? +

Cheraw has a total crime rate of 8447.0 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

A typical home in Cheraw is worth $113,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Cheraw? +

Climate normals put Cheraw's yearly average temperature at 61.9°F, 48.6 inches of precipitation, and 0.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.