South Carolina · GEOID 45001

Abbeville County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 24,420 · 11,806 housing units

Median household income

$52,935

State $70,153

Median home value

$178,800

State $272,524

Median gross rent

$799

State $1,203

Homeownership rate

78.1%

State 71.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

41.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

17.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.38

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Abbeville County	South Carolina
Population	24,420	5,296,225
Population density (per sq. mi.)	49.72	—
Median household income	$52,935	$70,153
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$73,200	—
Households	9,762	—
Average household size	2.41 people	—
Owner-occupied	78.1%	71.9%
Renter-occupied	21.9%	28.1%
Race	69.3% White · 25.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Abbeville County compared with South Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

20.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 32.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	27.1%	$41,988	$1,050	$125,274
1 earner	33.0%	$56,875	$1,422	$180,689
2 earners	32.2%	$106,028	$2,651	$363,653
3+ earners	7.7%	$171,136	$4,278	$606,007

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

9,762

Average size: 2.41 people

Households with children

2,127

21.8% of households

Per-capita income

$33,559

Poverty rate: 14.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

78.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 71.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 67.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 8.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

46.7% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,980.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $178,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $799.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,044 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 1.5% · For rent 2.3% · Seasonal 32.0% · Other 51.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

16.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 83.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

5.5%

654 units of 11,806 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

9.0%

1,059 units of 11,806 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$42,348

100% MHI$52,935

120% MHI$63,522

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Abbeville County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$41,800	$47,800	$59,700
100% AMI	$51,240	$58,560	$73,200
120% AMI	$61,500	$70,250	$87,850

HUD FMR Area: Abbeville County, SC. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

41.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (16.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Abbeville County.

Covered employment

3,615

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

384

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$50,455

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,845	$59,720	$191,279	+$12,479	$1,493
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	445	$24,025	$58,410	−$120,390	$601
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	364	$18,581	$38,145	−$140,655	$465
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	216	$38,839	$113,552	−$65,248	$971
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	134	$68,226	$222,941	+$44,141	$1,706
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	126	$48,666	$150,132	−$28,668	$1,217
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	124	$95,160	$323,198	+$144,398	$2,379
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	99	$42,962	$128,900	−$49,900	$1,074
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	85	$54,615	$172,276	−$6,524	$1,365
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	63	$56,945	$180,949	+$2,149	$1,424
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	46	$91,005	$307,732	+$128,932	$2,275
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	27	$38,064	$110,668	−$68,132	$952
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	20	$20,236	$44,306	−$134,494	$506
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	15	$49,291	$152,458	−$26,342	$1,232
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	5	$67,209	$219,155	+$40,355	$1,680
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1	$117,477	$406,270	+$227,470	$2,937

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	410	$33,121	$92,268	−$86,532	$828
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	245	$49,133	$151,870	−$26,930	$1,228
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	190	$19,341	$40,974	−$137,826	$484
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	125	$49,914	$154,777	−$24,023	$1,248
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	101	$49,185	$152,064	−$26,736	$1,230
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	95	$60,423	$193,895	+$15,095	$1,511
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	85	$19,081	$40,006	−$138,794	$477
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	73	$49,805	$154,372	−$24,428	$1,245
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	67	$28,099	$73,575	−$105,225	$702
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	66	$57,369	$182,527	+$3,727	$1,434
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	61	$54,137	$170,497	−$8,303	$1,353
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	55	$47,989	$147,612	−$31,188	$1,200
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	46	$44,991	$136,452	−$42,348	$1,125
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	46	$91,005	$307,732	+$128,932	$2,275
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	37	$62,997	$203,477	+$24,677	$1,575
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	34	$30,532	$82,631	−$96,169	$763
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	34	$25,590	$64,235	−$114,565	$640
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	29	$49,059	$151,595	−$27,205	$1,226
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	25	$47,013	$143,979	−$34,821	$1,175
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	20	$21,078	$47,440	−$131,360	$527
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	18	$16,802	$31,523	−$147,277	$420
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	17	$49,255	$152,324	−$26,476	$1,231
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	4	$33,625	$94,144	−$84,656	$841
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1	$117,477	$406,270	+$227,470	$2,937

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,370	970	242%	$11.14	$23,170	$55,227	$579
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,860	2,180	321%	$12.51	$26,010	$65,799	$650
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,770	990	56%	$13.17	$27,390	$70,935	$685
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	400	300	300%	$13.88	$28,870	$76,444	$722
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,210	640	112%	$15.20	$31,610	$86,644	$790
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,600	1,370	111%	$15.48	$32,200	$88,840	$805
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,040	(70)	(6%)	$17.17	$35,720	$101,942	$893
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,800	1,200	200%	$17.42	$36,240	$103,878	$906
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	330	230	230%	$18.41	$38,300	$111,546	$958
Tellers SOC 43-3071	190	(60)	(24%)	$18.88	$39,260	$115,120	$982
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	980	840	600%	$20.86	$43,390	$130,493	$1,085
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	100	(200)	(67%)	$24.11	$50,140	$155,619	$1,254
Electricians SOC 47-2111	440	290	193%	$24.36	$50,660	$157,554	$1,267
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	220	—	—	$25.07	$52,140	$163,063	$1,304
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	670	320	91%	$25.26	$52,540	$164,552	$1,314
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,190	320	37%	$25.52	$53,090	$166,599	$1,327
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,580	850	116%	$25.69	$53,430	$167,865	$1,336
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	280	200	250%	$27.00	$56,160	$178,027	$1,404
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,450	830	134%	—	$59,210	$189,380	$1,480
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,810	1,090	151%	$39.58	$82,320	$275,403	$2,058

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 45001 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.