Bethune is a small town of 454 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,714
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bethune stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bethune is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bethune 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: 92.9
Bethune's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bethune costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bethune, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$98,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,326
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,714
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Bethune's violent crime rate is 449.3 per 100,000 residents
— 18% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
449.3 /100k
Property Crime
1924.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bethune, SC
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
77.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bethune sees average highs of 55.4°F in January
and 91.5°F in July,
with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Bethune's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bethune roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $98,000 and median rent is $1,326/month.
Bethune's violent crime rate is 449.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1924.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Bethune, SC has a population of 454, a median household income of $40,714, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Bethune averages 55.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bethune, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29009.
The population of Bethune, South Carolina is 454 with a median age of 39.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bethune: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $98,000, median household income $40,714, crime index 108 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bethune side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
