City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Jefferson, SC

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

753
Residents
$35,227
Median income
$125,700
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Jefferson - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Jefferson places in the 5th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
4th
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: Jefferson, SC

753 people live in Jefferson, South Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Jefferson brings in $35,227 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.6%. Home values in Jefferson run a median of $125,700, and the median resident age is 32.7 years. Educational attainment runs 12.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 3 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $902 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 74.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

753 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$35,227 /yr

Poverty 15.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Jefferson compare to other US cities?

Where Jefferson 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 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% 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

Each percentile compares Jefferson 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 Jefferson near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Jefferson ranks #349 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Jefferson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#339 of 403
16th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#349 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#248 of 404
38th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#191 of 439
56th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#315 of 441
28th 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.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Jefferson's home value compares nationally

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

$125,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Jefferson $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 - Jefferson, SC Jefferson, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, SC median $35,227/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%
Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.3%

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

Population
753
Median Income
$35,227
Median Home Value
$125,700
Median Age
32.7
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Labor force participation
57.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.4%

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 →
760 residents770 residents780 residents790 residents800 residents 202020212022202320242025 771 residents 797 residents ▲ +3.4%
Jefferson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4
permits per 1,000 residents

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
9.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.1%
Work from Home
2.6%
Other
2.0%

Based on 351 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 Jefferson 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

Fripp Island
753 people
Dunbar
750 people
DeBordieu Colony
748 people
Furman
747 people
Hamer
735 people
McClellanville
734 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Jefferson's 753 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Junction City, IL
753 people
Union, IL
753 people
Windsor, IL
753 people
West Concord, MN
753 people
Madrid, NY
753 people
Rock Island, OK
753 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Jefferson's $35,227 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hoxie, AR
$35,234 median income
Rocky Fork Point, OH
$35,234 median income
Sierra Brooks, CA
$35,236 median income
Clarksdale, MS
$35,210 median income
Ruby, AK
$35,208 median income
Fisher, LA
$35,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.8% 32.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.1% White 64.8% Black or African American 32.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 2.1% 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 Jefferson 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
Jefferson (this city) 753 $35,227
Fripp Island 753 $101,731
Dunbar 750 $88,250
DeBordieu Colony 748 $193,182
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Jefferson, SC?

What is the population of Jefferson, SC? +

Jefferson, SC has a population of 753 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Jefferson runs $35,227, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Jefferson? +

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

Jefferson's median home value sits at $125,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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