City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Walterboro, SC

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

5,490
Residents
$48,366
Median income
$170,500
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Walterboro - the verdict

Nationally, Walterboro sits in the 17th percentile for household income and the 2nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
2nd
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: Walterboro, SC

South Carolina's Walterboro is a small town, with 5,490 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $48,366 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 30.6%. Home values in Walterboro run a median of $170,500, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. About 19.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 11 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 175% from five years earlier. Walterboro's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 6386.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Walterboro's yearly average temperature at 64.1°F with 51.4 inches of precipitation per year.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $902 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). The average commute for Walterboro workers runs 31.4 minutes, with 77.4% driving alone and 10.1% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 85.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

5,490 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$48,366 /yr

Poverty 30.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Walterboro compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities
Safety 2% 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: Walterboro ranks #110 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 Walterboro 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 Walterboro near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

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

Median Household Income
#226 of 403
44th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#349 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#175 of 404
57th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#54 of 439
88th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#198 of 441
55th 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.

17thIncome percentile
2ndSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 2nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Walterboro's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Walterboro'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 33 Avg. percentile National median
Walterboro'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 Walterboro's home value compares nationally

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

$170,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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. Walterboro $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 - Walterboro, SC Walterboro, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Walterboro, 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 Walterboro, SC median $48,366/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%
Walterboro, 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 Walterboro, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 30.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.8%

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

Population
5,490
Median Income
$48,366
Median Home Value
$170,500
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
30.6%
Labor force participation
54.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
6386.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1006.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5379.7
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
64.1°F
Annual Precipitation
51.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,440 residents5,460 residents5,480 residents5,500 residents5,520 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,495 residents 5,485 residents ▼ -0.2%
Walterboro's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
11
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 8
2021 3
2022 6
2023 4
2024 11

Permit volume increased 175% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
31.4 minutes
Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
10.1%
Other
2.5%

Based on 2,484 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 Walterboro 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
85.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Belvedere
5,458 people
Laurel Bay
5,627 people
Hollywood
5,330 people
Blythewood
5,309 people
Central
5,299 people
Chester
5,241 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Walterboro's 5,490 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Quantico Base, VA
5,491 people
Columbus, WI
5,493 people
Luling, TX
5,486 people
Otis Orchards-East Farms, WA
5,486 people
Osceola, IA
5,495 people
Albion, NY
5,495 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Walterboro's $48,366 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Milton, IL
$48,365 median income
Shepherd, TX
$48,368 median income
Windsor, VT
$48,371 median income
Geneva, OH
$48,357 median income
Dripping Springs, AZ
$48,355 median income
Johnson, VT
$48,355 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Walterboro, 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 Walterboro, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 44.1% 48.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.9% White 44.1% Black or African American 48.1% Asian 3.0% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 3.2% 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 Walterboro 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
Walterboro (this city) 5,490 $48,366
Belvedere 5,458 $57,933
Laurel Bay 5,627 $52,094
Hollywood 5,330 $77,415
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Walterboro, SC?

What is the population of Walterboro, SC? +

The population of Walterboro, SC stands at 5,490 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Walterboro runs $48,366, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Walterboro? +

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

Walterboro has a total crime rate of 6386.1 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 Walterboro, SC? +

Walterboro's median home value sits at $170,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Walterboro? +

Climate normals put Walterboro's yearly average temperature at 64.1°F, 51.4 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.