City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Estill, SC

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

2,287
Residents
$36,547
Median income
$79,500
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Estill - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Estill places in the 5th percentile for household income and the 3rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
3rd
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: Estill, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,287 residents in Estill, a small town within South Carolina. Estill households earn a median of $36,547 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 23.4%. Estill's housing stock carries a median value of $79,500, and the median resident age is 32.0 years. 7.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Estill's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 5308.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 64.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

2,287 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$36,547 /yr

Poverty 23.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Estill compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities
Safety 3% 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: Estill ranks #102 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile 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 Estill'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.

5thIncome percentile
3rdSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 3rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Estill's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Estill'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 35 Avg. percentile National median
Estill'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 Estill's home value compares nationally

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

$79,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% 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. Estill $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 - Estill, SC Estill, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Estill, 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 Estill, SC median $36,547/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%
Estill, 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 Estill, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.6%

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

Population
2,287
Median Income
$36,547
Median Home Value
$79,500
Median Age
32.0
Poverty Rate
23.4%
Labor force participation
56.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
5308.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
2168.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3139.3
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.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,760 residents1,780 residents1,800 residents1,820 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,812 residents 1,778 residents ▼ -1.9%
Estill's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.8%
Carpool
25.1%
Public Transit
3.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.2%

Based on 1,033 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 Estill 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
64.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Privateer
2,294 people
Edisto
2,261 people
Watts Mills
2,250 people
Westminster
2,244 people
Ben Avon
2,334 people
Kershaw
2,220 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Estill's 2,287 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hanapepe, HI
2,288 people
Maunawili, HI
2,288 people
Hinckley, IL
2,286 people
Fowler, IN
2,286 people
Thayer, MO
2,288 people
North Conway, NH
2,286 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Estill's $36,547 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Otoe, NE
$36,548 median income
Crenshaw, MS
$36,542 median income
Oasis, CA
$36,553 median income
Canyon Day, AZ
$36,563 median income
Montgomery Creek, CA
$36,563 median income
Bolton, MS
$36,563 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Estill, 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 Estill, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 7.6% 84.3% 8.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.3% White 7.6% Black or African American 84.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.2% Two or more races 0.0% 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 Estill 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
Estill (this city) 2,287 $36,547
Privateer 2,294 $49,861
Edisto 2,261 $46,644
Watts Mills 2,250 $47,192
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Estill, SC?

What is the population of Estill, SC? +

Estill, SC has a population of 2,287 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Estill runs $36,547, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Estill? +

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

Estill has a total crime rate of 5308.2 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 Estill, SC? +

The median home value in Estill is $79,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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

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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.