City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Santee, SC

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

1,179
Residents
$36,856
Median income
$163,800
Median home
$910
Median rent (state)

Santee - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Santee places in the 6th percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

6th
percentile, household income
31st
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
1st
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: Santee, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,179 residents in Santee, a small town within South Carolina. Median household income here is $36,856 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 37.7%. Typical homes in Santee are valued around $163,800, and the median resident age is 51.6 years. About 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Santee's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 7320.1 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: 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 $910 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,179 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$36,856 /yr

Poverty 37.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Santee compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 31% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% 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: Santee ranks #119 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 Santee 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

Poverty Rate is Santee's strongest outlier among South Carolina cities

Among the 439 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Santee ranks #33 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Santee only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#324 of 403
20th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#337 of 441
21st percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#189 of 404
53rd percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#33 of 439
92nd percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#132 of 441
70th 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.

6thIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Santee's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Santee'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 30 Avg. percentile National median
Santee'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 Santee's home value compares nationally

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

$163,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Santee $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 - Santee, SC Santee, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Santee, 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 Santee, SC median $36,856/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%
Santee, 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 Santee, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 37.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

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

Population
1,179
Median Income
$36,856
Median Home Value
$163,800
Median Age
51.6
Poverty Rate
37.7%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
7320.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1240.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
6079.4
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
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
770 residents780 residents790 residents800 residents 202020212022202320242025 793 residents 775 residents ▼ -2.3%
Santee's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.4%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
1.6%

Based on 544 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 Santee sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$910/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Conestee
1,175 people
Due West
1,185 people
City View
1,172 people
Murphys Estates
1,187 people
Wagener
1,170 people
Branchville
1,169 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Santee's 1,179 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

London, AR
1,179 people
Gotha, FL
1,179 people
Hydro, OK
1,179 people
Yamhill, OR
1,179 people
Muhlenberg Park, PA
1,179 people
Gleason, TN
1,179 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Santee's $36,856 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Spring Glen, UT
$36,864 median income
Monterey, IN
$36,866 median income
Avon Park, FL
$36,845 median income
Hartford City, IN
$36,868 median income
Gregory, TX
$36,844 median income
Georgetown-Quitman County unified government, GA
$36,838 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Santee, 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 Santee, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 16.8% 72.0% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 16.8% Black or African American 72.0% Asian 10.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 0.7% 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 Santee 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
Santee (this city) 1,179 $36,856
Conestee 1,175 $60,450
Due West 1,185 $52,059
City View 1,172 $37,625
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Santee, SC?

What is the population of Santee, SC? +

1,179 people live in Santee, SC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Santee households earn a median of $36,856 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Santee? +

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

Santee has a total crime rate of 7320.1 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 Santee, SC? +

Homes in Santee carry a median value of $163,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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