City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Johnston, SC

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

2,518
Residents
$34,957
Median income
$100,400
Median home
$1,261
Median rent (state)

Johnston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Johnston places in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
42nd
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: Johnston, SC

Johnston is a small town in South Carolina, home to 2,518 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Johnston households earn a median of $34,957 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.3%. Typical homes in Johnston are valued around $100,400, and the median resident age is 45.7 years. Educational attainment runs 13.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 62.7°F with 48.5 inches of precipitation per year and 1.0 inches of snowfall.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,261 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 22.0 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,518 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$34,957 /yr

Poverty 22.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Johnston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% 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 Johnston 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 Johnston toward the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 404 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Johnston ranks #309 - the 24th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Johnston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#345 of 403
14th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#180 of 441
55th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#309 of 404
24th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#115 of 439
74th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#300 of 441
32nd 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.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Johnston's home value compares nationally

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

$100,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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. Johnston $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 - Johnston, SC Johnston, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Johnston, 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 Johnston, SC median $34,957/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%
Johnston, 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 Johnston, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.1%

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

Population
2,518
Median Income
$34,957
Median Home Value
$100,400
Median Age
45.7
Poverty Rate
22.3%
Labor force participation
45.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.7°F
Annual Precipitation
48.5"
Annual Snowfall
1.0"

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 →
1,900 residents2,000 residents2,100 residents2,200 residents2,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,999 residents 2,233 residents ▲ +11.7%
Johnston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.2%
Carpool
6.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.6%
Work from Home
3.1%

Based on 900 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 Johnston sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,261/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
22.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Andrews
2,558 people
Pageland
2,476 people
Landrum
2,564 people
Loris
2,570 people
McColl
2,453 people
Ravenel
2,594 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Johnston's 2,518 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hernando Beach, FL
2,518 people
Star Valley, AZ
2,517 people
Cayucos, CA
2,517 people
La Selva Beach, CA
2,519 people
Nice, CA
2,517 people
Wakarusa, IN
2,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Johnston's $34,957 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fort Hancock, TX
$34,957 median income
Clearbrook, NJ
$34,958 median income
Versailles, MO
$34,970 median income
Ariton, AL
$34,943 median income
Dumas, AR
$34,938 median income
Abbeville, LA
$34,977 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Johnston, 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 Johnston, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 26.1% 65.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 26.1% Black or African American 65.9% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 5.0% 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 Johnston 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
Johnston (this city) 2,518 $34,957
Andrews 2,558 $53,611
Pageland 2,476 $40,236
Landrum 2,564 $41,161
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Johnston, SC?

What is the population of Johnston, SC? +

Johnston, SC counts 2,518 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Johnston households earn a median of $34,957 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Johnston? +

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

A typical home in Johnston is worth $100,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Johnston? +

Johnston has an average annual temperature of 62.7°F, 48.5 inches of precipitation, and 1.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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