The Town FilesBarnwell, South Carolina
City in Barnwell County · population 4,652 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,300
- Household income
- $52,006
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.4
Barnwell is a city of 4,652 people in Barnwell County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $145,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Barnwell ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barnwell is worth $145,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $52,006, which is more affordable than 74% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnwell | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $678 | $937 |
| Median household income | $52,006 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Barnwell
| People | Barnwell | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Barnwell
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 34.5°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnwell since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2008.
Severe weather in Barnwell County since 1996
Barnwell County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Barnwell County
Barnwell County had 4,864 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,379 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Barnwell itself the ACS puts it at 13.8%.
Public schools in Barnwell
4 public schools with 1,952 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell Primary | PK-3 | 651 | 12.8 |
| Barnwell High | 9-12 | 562 | 14.4 |
| Barnwell Elementary | 4-6 | 453 | 16.8 |
| Guinyard-Butler Middle | 7-8 | 286 | 16.8 |
Towns near Barnwell
- Williston, SC11.5 mi · 2,877 people · home $105,100
- Denmark, SC14.3 mi · 3,186 people · home $63,900
- Allendale, SC16.5 mi · 2,694 people · home $86,500
- Bamberg, SC19.8 mi · 3,076 people · home $157,900
- Aiken, SC28.8 mi · 32,025 people · home $286,800
- Hampton, SC29.8 mi · 2,694 people · home $206,400
Barnwell questions
Is Barnwell, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnwell scores better for retirees than 30% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 63%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Barnwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnwell is valued at $145,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,006, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnwell?
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 34.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Barnwell get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)