Barnwell is a small town of 4,643 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $38,065
and a 12.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Barnwell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Barnwell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Barnwell city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.4
Barnwell's overall cost of living index is 88.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Barnwell costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Barnwell, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$116,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$593
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,065
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Barnwell's violent crime rate is 1207.7 per 100,000 residents
— 218% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1207.7 /100k
Property Crime
3381.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Barnwell is served primarily by Barnwell.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Barnwell, SC
National Avg
School District
Barnwell
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Barnwell sees average highs of 59.1°F in January
and 93.1°F in July,
with 48.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Barnwell's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Barnwell roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $116,900 and median rent is $593/month.
Barnwell's violent crime rate is 1207.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3381.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Barnwell are operated by Barnwell.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 18.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Barnwell, SC has a population of 4,643, a median household income of $38,065, and an unemployment rate of 12.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Barnwell averages 59.1°F in January and 93.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.7 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Barnwell, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29812.
The population of Barnwell, South Carolina is 4,643 with a median age of 32.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Barnwell: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $116,900, median household income $38,065, crime index 255 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Barnwell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
