City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Conway, SC

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

26,082
Residents
$54,841
Median income
$236,300
Median home
$1,465
Median rent (state)

Conway - the verdict

Conway ranks in the 27th percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
57th
percentile, median rent
24th
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: Conway, SC

South Carolina's Conway is a small city, with 26,082 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Conway households earn a median of $54,841 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.1%. Home values in Conway run a median of $236,300, and the median resident age is 34.3 years. Educational attainment runs 19.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 411 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 66% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2419.4 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 64.5°F with 55.2 inches of precipitation per year.

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 $1,465 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). Commute times here average 21.2 minutes, with 76.1% driving alone and 5.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

26,082 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$54,841 /yr

Poverty 15.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Conway compare to other US cities?

Here's how Conway stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just South Carolina and the picture shifts: Conway ranks #52 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Conway 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 Conway toward the top of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Conway ranks #66 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Conway only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#175 of 403
57th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#66 of 441
82nd percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#92 of 404
77th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#200 of 439
54th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#208 of 441
52nd percentile in South Carolina

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.

27thIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Conway's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Conway'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 32 Avg. percentile National median
Conway'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 Conway's home value compares nationally

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

$236,300 48th percentile more affordable than 48% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Conway $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 - Conway, SC Conway, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Conway, 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 Conway, SC median $54,841/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%
Conway, 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 Conway, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.8%

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

Population
26,082
Median Income
$54,841
Median Home Value
$236,300
Median Age
34.3
Poverty Rate
15.1%
Labor force participation
45.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2419.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
444.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1974.8
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
64.5°F
Annual Precipitation
55.2"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
24,000 residents26,000 residents28,000 residents30,000 residents32,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 25,210 residents 30,627 residents ▲ +21.5%
Conway's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
411
housing units authorized
Single-Family
411
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
15.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 248
2020 205
2021 371
2022 234
2023 251
2024 411

Permit volume increased 66% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.2 minutes
Drive Alone
76.1%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
3.4%

Based on 10,107 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 Conway sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,465/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Mauldin
25,985 people
Carolina Forest
26,373 people
Simpsonville
25,125 people
North Augusta
24,928 people
Socastee
24,629 people
Lexington
24,132 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Conway's 26,082 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oxford, MS
26,086 people
Ridgewood, NJ
26,076 people
Medina, OH
26,040 people
North Tustin, CA
26,038 people
Cave Spring, VA
26,014 people
Ives Estates, FL
26,154 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Conway's $54,841 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lakemore, OH
$54,836 median income
Bellows Falls, VT
$54,836 median income
Tice, FL
$54,833 median income
Wendell, ID
$54,850 median income
Kelso, MO
$54,853 median income
El Dorado, KS
$54,828 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Conway, 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 Conway, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 62.1% 29.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.8% White 62.1% Black or African American 29.0% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 3.6% 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 Conway 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
Conway (this city) 26,082 $54,841
Mauldin 25,985 $81,027
Carolina Forest 26,373 $70,647
Simpsonville 25,125 $79,233
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Conway, SC?

What is the population of Conway, SC? +

Conway, SC has a population of 26,082 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Conway, the typical household earns $54,841 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Conway? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Conway; 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 Conway, SC safe? +

Conway has a total crime rate of 2419.4 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Conway, SC? +

Conway's median home value sits at $236,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Conway? +

The average annual temperature in Conway runs 64.5°F, 55.2 inches of precipitation. 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

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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.