Median Income
$38,092
household / year
Median Home Value
$98,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$856
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100

Is Varnville, SC a Good Place to Live?

Varnville is a small town of 2,173 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $38,092 and a 14.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Varnville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Varnville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Varnville 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: 90.5

Varnville's overall cost of living index is 90.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Varnville costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric Varnville, SC National Avg
Median Home Value $98,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $856 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 57.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $38,092 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Varnville's violent crime rate is 733.5 per 100,000 residents — 93% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
733.5 /100k
Property Crime
1914.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Varnville is served primarily by Hampton. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Varnville, SC National Avg
School District Hampton
Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 91.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Varnville sees average highs of 61.9°F in January and 92.2°F in July, with 45.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricVarnville, SC
Average High — January61.9°F
Average High — July92.2°F
Annual Precipitation45.2"
Annual Snowfall0.1"

Demographics

MetricVarnville, SCNational Avg
Population2,173
Median Age39.338.9
Unemployment Rate14.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time27.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)34.6%59.3%
Black or African American60.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.9%18.9%
Asian3.2%6.3%
Under 1824.8%22.2%
65 and over19.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Varnville

Varnville, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Varnville vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Varnville's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Varnville roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $98,700 and median rent is $856/month.
Varnville's violent crime rate is 733.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1914.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Varnville are operated by Hampton. The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 18.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Varnville, SC has a population of 2,173, a median household income of $38,092, and an unemployment rate of 14.8%. 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.
Varnville averages 61.9°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.2 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Varnville, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29944.
The population of Varnville, South Carolina is 2,173 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Varnville: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $98,700, median household income $38,092, crime index 152 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Varnville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.