City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Fountain Inn, SC

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

11,307
Residents
$72,021
Median income
$255,400
Median home
$1,339
Median rent (state)

Fountain Inn - the verdict

Fountain Inn ranks in the 52nd percentile for household income and the 61st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

52nd
percentile, household income
57th
percentile, home value
49th
percentile, median rent
61st
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: Fountain Inn, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 11,307 residents in Fountain Inn, a small town within South Carolina. Median household income here is $72,021 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.3%. Fountain Inn's housing stock carries a median value of $255,400, and the median resident age is 33.9 years. Educational attainment runs 30.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 402 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 115% from five years earlier. Fountain Inn reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1057.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 60.5°F with 50.2 inches of precipitation per year.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,339 monthly. 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 94.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

11,307 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$72,021 /yr

Poverty 10.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Fountain Inn compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 57% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% pricier than other cities
Safety 61% 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: Fountain Inn ranks #12 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 Fountain Inn 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 Home Value places Fountain Inn toward the top of South Carolina's cities

Among the 404 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Fountain Inn ranks #78 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fountain Inn only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#93 of 403
77th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#82 of 441
73rd percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#78 of 404
81st percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#253 of 439
42nd percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#96 of 441
78th 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.

52ndIncome percentile
61stSafety percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income · 61st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fountain Inn's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fountain Inn'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 53 Avg. percentile National median
Fountain Inn'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 Fountain Inn's home value compares nationally

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

$255,400 43rd percentile more affordable than 43% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Fountain Inn $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 - Fountain Inn, SC Fountain Inn, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fountain Inn, 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 Fountain Inn, SC median $72,021/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%
Fountain Inn, 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 Fountain Inn, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.2%

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

Population
11,307
Median Income
$72,021
Median Home Value
$255,400
Median Age
33.9
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Labor force participation
66.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1057.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
78.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
978.9
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
60.5°F
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
10,000 residents12,000 residents14,000 residents16,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 10,511 residents 14,722 residents ▲ +40.1%
Fountain Inn's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
402
housing units authorized
Single-Family
402
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
35.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 187
2020 256
2021 350
2022 543
2023 302
2024 402

Permit volume increased 115% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
12.6%
Other
5.5%

Based on 5,470 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 Fountain Inn sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,339/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Powdersville
11,321 people
Red Bank
10,950 people
James Island
11,738 people
Garden
10,820 people
Irmo
11,799 people
Newberry
10,733 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fountain Inn's 11,307 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Snyder, TX
11,310 people
Selma, TX
11,302 people
Clawson, MI
11,314 people
Holbrook, MA
11,320 people
Mitchellville, MD
11,325 people
Elon, NC
11,325 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fountain Inn's $72,021 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cold Spring, MN
$72,022 median income
Clark Mills, NY
$72,019 median income
Union, WA
$72,019 median income
Basin, WA
$72,024 median income
Tremonton, UT
$72,028 median income
Brookside, DE
$72,031 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fountain Inn, 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 Fountain Inn, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.1% 29.0% 12.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.8% White 57.1% Black or African American 29.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 12.2% 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 Fountain Inn 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
Fountain Inn (this city) 11,307 $72,021
Powdersville 11,321 $88,125
Red Bank 10,950 $60,348
James Island 11,738 $100,176
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fountain Inn, SC?

What is the population of Fountain Inn, SC? +

The population of Fountain Inn, SC stands at 11,307 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fountain Inn, SC? +

In Fountain Inn, the typical household earns $72,021 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fountain Inn? +

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

Fountain Inn has a total crime rate of 1057.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Fountain Inn, SC? +

Fountain Inn's median home value sits at $255,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fountain Inn? +

Climate normals put Fountain Inn's yearly average temperature at 60.5°F, 50.2 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.