Brian McClure
Jul 1, 2026
A closer look at how poverty varies across counties and racial and ethnic groups
OVERVIEW
In South Carolina, poverty disproportionately affects Black and rural communities. It is shaped by decades of structural and institutional racism, disinvestment, and persistent barriers to opportunity and access.
Explore the interactive map below. Click any county to see its poverty rate and statewide rank.
POVERTY BY COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA
In 2024, approximately 13.3 percent of South Carolinians lived below the federal poverty line (FPL). The federal poverty level (FPL) is the federal government's official measure of poverty and is used to determine eligibility for many public assistance programs. In 2024, the FPL was $15,060 for a single adult and $31,200 for a family of four. Some SC counties however, had significantly higher rates than the statewide average.
According to Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) data, counties such as Allendale (31.6%), Marion (30.8%), Marlboro (30.2%), and Williamsburg (25.5%) experienced poverty rates far above the statewide average. These patterns reflect longstanding inequities in access to economic opportunity, modern infrastructure, quality healthcare, education, transportation, and stable employment.
FIGURE 1 South Carolina Poverty Rates by County, 2024
Source: US Census Bureau, SAIPE. Prepared by ourvillage.
Why does this matter? Communities facing persistent poverty often experience overlapping challenges, including lower wages, fewer quality jobs, aging infrastructure, limited healthcare access, transportation barriers, and lower educational attainment. These challenges reinforce each other over time, making it harder for families to build savings, accumulate wealth, or recover from economic setbacks.
At the same time, many rural communities remain central to South Carolina's cultural and civic identity. Several of the state's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including South Carolina State University and Claflin University (Orangeburg County) and Denmark Technical College and Voorhees University (Bamberg County), are located in counties with poverty rates well above the statewide average. For generations, these institutions have served as engines of mobility, leadership, and community stability in regions that continue to face persistent economic challenges.
POVERTY BY RACE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Many of the South Carolina counties with the highest poverty rates also have large Black populations and long histories shaped by plantation agriculture, racial segregation, and economic disinvestment. These historical patterns continue to influence where economic opportunity is concentrated today.
Statewide, 21.4 percent of Black South Carolinians lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, compared with 9.4 percent of White South Carolinians. American Indian and Hispanic South Carolinians also experience poverty at a substantially higher rate than the statewide average.
FIGURE 2 South Carolina Poverty rates by Race and Ethnicity, South Carolina, 2024
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, South Carolina Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months, 2024.
South Carolina's overall poverty rate has declined over the past several decades, but progress has not been shared equally. Black South Carolinians continue to experience poverty at substantially higher rates than White South Carolinians, and the gap has changed little over time. This pattern reflects long-standing differences in access to education, employment, housing, and wealth-building opportunities.
CONCLUSION
Eliminating poverty is ultimately about whether communities have access to opportunity, investment, infrastructure, and political power. If South Carolina is serious about eliminating poverty, it must also address the racial and regional inequities that continue to shape who experiences it most.
END NOTES
See Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024 State and County Estimates.
Ibid. The federal poverty threshold for a family of four was approximately $31,200 in 2024. SAIPE does not produce racial breakdowns at the county level; racial poverty rates shown are statewide.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, South Carolina Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months, 2024.