Town · South Carolina
Williston, South Carolina
Williston, town, in Barnwell County, South Carolina. Williston had 2,898 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,877 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,870 (±54). GEOID 4577965.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,898
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,877 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,870 ±54
Median household income
$39,484
±$7,641 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$105,100
±$24,059 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$677
±$89 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Williston and what county is it in?
Williston is a town in Barnwell County, South Carolina. It covers 9.0 square miles of land, 321 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Williston, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,898 people lived in Williston on July 1, 2025, up 0.3% since 2020, slower than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,877 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,870 (±54).
| Measure | Williston | Barnwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,870 ±54 | 20,521 | −113 |
| Households | 1,227 ±170 | 8,116 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.27 ±0.31 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,416 ±201 | 9,927 | no clear change |
Williston's population since 2000
From 3,307 in 2000 to 2,898 in 2025: down 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Williston as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Williston?
The median resident of Williston is 40.4 years old; 25.9% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 58.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 40.4%.
| Measure | Williston | Barnwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 ±13.9 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.9% ±6.4 pts | 23.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.6% ±6.2 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Male | 48.0% ±5.8 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2% ±0.6 pts | 2.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 40.4% ±7.8 pts | 50.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 58.5% ±7.6 pts | 42.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3% ±0.7 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.8% ±3.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 17.4% ±6.7 pts | 20.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.5% ±5.7 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.6% ±5.4 pts | 83.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.6% ±7.1 pts | 13.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.1% ±2.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6% ±4.9 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±2.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Williston earn?
Half of Williston's 1,227 households earn less than $39,484 a year (±$7,641), against $46,626 in Barnwell County and $69,324 in South Carolina. 30.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Williston | Barnwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,484 ±$7,641 | $46,626 | – |
| Mean household income | $56,851 ±$7,618 | $66,517 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,005 ±$4,049 | $28,139 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 30.5% ±10.2 pts | 25.0% | −21.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 51.6% ±20.8 pts | 43.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.1% ±7.1 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.4% ±6.3 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.9% ±9.7 pts | 75.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Williston?
Owners occupy 54.6% of Williston's occupied homes and renters 45.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,100 by its owner (±$24,059). The median renter pays $677 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Williston | Barnwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $105,100 ±$24,059 | $106,000 | −$94,395 |
| Median gross rent | $677 ±$89 | $740 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 13.3% ±11.9 pts | 33.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,039 ±$150 | $1,252 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.6% ±11.8 pts | 70.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.4% ±11.8 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,416 ±201 | 9,927 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 6.4% ±8.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±7.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 52.2% ±10.0 pts | 58.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 26.1% ±10.1 pts | 32.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.3% ±2.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.4% ±3.5 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.2% ±6.4 pts | 10.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Williston work and get to work?
84.4% of Williston's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.8 minutes.
| Measure | Williston | Barnwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.9% ±8.2 pts | 57.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±5.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.4% ±8.5 pts | 82.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.6% ±3.0 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 9.8% ±8.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±1.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 1.0% ±1.8 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.8 min ±4.3 | 27.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Williston?
1 census tract lies mostly in Williston, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9701.01Barnwell County | 2,359 | $43,269 |
| Tract 9701.02Barnwell County | 2,879 | $55,234 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Williston) · Census block assignment files
How does Williston compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Williston is the 6,443rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 93rd-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Williston ranks 203rd of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 93rd | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 107th | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 239th | 261 |
| Median household income | 203rd | 248 |
| Per capita income | 169th | 259 |
| Median home value | 217th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 212th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 41st | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 152nd | 226 |
| Median age | 107th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 190th | 258 |
| Travel time to work | 191st | 261 |
Williston's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Williston with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Williston?
21 of the 57 figures for Williston on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Williston are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Williston.