Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in South Carolina

Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Clemson, SC had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 43 cities in 2023, at 36.1%. Tega Cay, SC had the lowest, at 0.6%. The median was 12.9% and the figure for South Carolina was 14.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest36.1Clemson, SC
Lowest0.6Tega Cay, SC
Median12.943 cities
South Carolina14.2History

All cities, 2023

Clemson, SC: 36.1 %Clemson, SC36.1Orangeburg, SC: 31.5 %Orangeburg, SC31.5Newberry, SC: 27 %Newberry, SC27Greenwood, SC: 25.1 %Greenwood, SC25.1Gaffney, SC: 24.8 %Gaffney, SC24.8Spartanburg, SC: 24.1 %Spartanburg, SC24.1Columbia, SC: 23.3 %Columbia, SC23.3Anderson, SC: 22.3 %Anderson, SC22.3Conway, SC: 20.3 %Conway, SC20.3Florence, SC: 18.1 %Florence, SC18.1Beaufort, SC: 18 %Beaufort, SC18Cayce, SC: 17.8 %Cayce, SC17.8Myrtle Beach, SC: 16.9 %Myrtle Beach, SC16.9Aiken, SC: 16.3 %Aiken, SC16.3York, SC: 16.1 %York, SC16.1Sumter, SC: 15.8 %Sumter, SC15.8North Charleston, SC: 15.5 %North Charleston, SC15.5Easley, SC: 14.3 %Easley, SC14.3West Columbia, SC: 14.1 %West Columbia, SC14.1Greenville, SC: 14.1 %Greenville, SC14.1Rock Hill, SC: 13.3 %Rock Hill, SC13.3Fountain Inn, SC: 12.9 %Fountain Inn, SC12.9Charleston, SC: 12 %Charleston, SC12Hanahan, SC: 10.9 %Hanahan, SC10.9Hardeeville, SC: 10.8 %Hardeeville, SC10.8Port Royal, SC: 10.7 %Port Royal, SC10.7Summerville, SC: 10.3 %Summerville, SC10.3Greer, SC: 9.9 %Greer, SC9.9Hilton Head Island, SC: 8.4 %Hilton Head Island, SC8.4Mauldin, SC: 8.3 %Mauldin, SC8.3Forest Acres, SC: 8.2 %Forest Acres, SC8.2Irmo, SC: 8.1 %Irmo, SC8.1Lexington, SC: 7.4 %Lexington, SC7.4North Augusta, SC: 6.9 %North Augusta, SC6.9Goose Creek, SC: 6.6 %Goose Creek, SC6.6North Myrtle Beach, SC: 6.1 %North Myrtle Beach, SC6.1Simpsonville, SC: 6.1 %Simpsonville, SC6.1Mount Pleasant, SC: 5.8 %Mount Pleasant, SC5.8Moncks Corner, SC: 5.6 %Moncks Corner, SC5.6James Island, SC: 5.4 %James Island, SC5.4Bluffton, SC: 4.8 %Bluffton, SC4.8Fort Mill, SC: 3.7 %Fort Mill, SC3.7Tega Cay, SC: 0.6 %Tega Cay, SC0.6Clemson, SC: 36.1 %Clemson, SC36.1Orangeburg, SC: 31.5 %Orangeburg, SC31.5Newberry, SC: 27 %Newberry, SC27Greenwood, SC: 25.1 %Greenwood, SC25.1Gaffney, SC: 24.8 %Gaffney, SC24.8Spartanburg, SC: 24.1 %Spartanburg, SC24.1Columbia, SC: 23.3 %Columbia, SC23.3Anderson, SC: 22.3 %Anderson, SC22.3Conway, SC: 20.3 %Conway, SC20.3Florence, SC: 18.1 %Florence, SC18.1Beaufort, SC: 18 %Beaufort, SC18Cayce, SC: 17.8 %Cayce, SC17.8Myrtle Beach, SC: 16.9 %Myrtle Beach, SC16.9Aiken, SC: 16.3 %Aiken, SC16.3York, SC: 16.1 %York, SC16.1Sumter, SC: 15.8 %Sumter, SC15.8North Charleston, SC: 15.5 %North Charleston, SC15.5Easley, SC: 14.3 %Easley, SC14.3West Columbia, SC: 14.1 %West Columbia, SC14.1Greenville, SC: 14.1 %Greenville, SC14.1Rock Hill, SC: 13.3 %Rock Hill, SC13.3Fountain Inn, SC: 12.9 %Fountain Inn, SC12.9Charleston, SC: 12 %Charleston, SC12Hanahan, SC: 10.9 %Hanahan, SC10.9Hardeeville, SC: 10.8 %Hardeeville, SC10.8Port Royal, SC: 10.7 %Port Royal, SC10.7Summerville, SC: 10.3 %Summerville, SC10.3Greer, SC: 9.9 %Greer, SC9.9Hilton Head Island, SC: 8.4 %Hilton Head Island, SC8.4Mauldin, SC: 8.3 %Mauldin, SC8.3Forest Acres, SC: 8.2 %Forest Acres, SC8.2Irmo, SC: 8.1 %Irmo, SC8.1Lexington, SC: 7.4 %Lexington, SC7.4North Augusta, SC: 6.9 %North Augusta, SC6.9Goose Creek, SC: 6.6 %Goose Creek, SC6.6North Myrtle Beach, SC: 6.1 %North Myrtle Beach, SC6.1Simpsonville, SC: 6.1 %Simpsonville, SC6.1Mount Pleasant, SC: 5.8 %Mount Pleasant, SC5.8Moncks Corner, SC: 5.6 %Moncks Corner, SC5.6James Island, SC: 5.4 %James Island, SC5.4Bluffton, SC: 4.8 %Bluffton, SC4.8Fort Mill, SC: 3.7 %Fort Mill, SC3.7Tega Cay, SC: 0.6 %Tega Cay, SC0.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Clemson, SC36.1+0.1 pts
2Orangeburg, SC31.5-2.5 pts
3Newberry, SC27+0.3 pts
4Greenwood, SC25.1+0.4 pts
5Gaffney, SC24.8+1.8 pts
6Spartanburg, SC24.1-1.6 pts
7Columbia, SC23.3-1 pts
8Anderson, SC22.3-2.9 pts
9Conway, SC20.30 pts
10Florence, SC18.1-0.7 pts
11Beaufort, SC18-1.7 pts
12Cayce, SC17.8-0.1 pts
13Myrtle Beach, SC16.9+1.6 pts
14Aiken, SC16.3+0.3 pts
15York, SC16.1-1.3 pts
16Sumter, SC15.8-1.7 pts
17North Charleston, SC15.5-0.9 pts
18Easley, SC14.3+1.6 pts
19West Columbia, SC14.1-0.1 pts
20Greenville, SC14.1-0.3 pts
21Rock Hill, SC13.3+0.3 pts
22Fountain Inn, SC12.9-2.4 pts
23Charleston, SC12-0.6 pts
24Hanahan, SC10.9-2 pts
25Hardeeville, SC10.8+2.1 pts
26Port Royal, SC10.7+1.6 pts
27Summerville, SC10.3-0.5 pts
28Greer, SC9.9-0.7 pts
29Hilton Head Island, SC8.4+0.8 pts
30Mauldin, SC8.3+0.6 pts
31Forest Acres, SC8.2-1.5 pts
32Irmo, SC8.1+1.5 pts
33Lexington, SC7.4-0.9 pts
34North Augusta, SC6.9-1.2 pts
35Goose Creek, SC6.6-0.6 pts
36North Myrtle Beach, SC6.1-0.8 pts
37Simpsonville, SC6.1-0.4 pts
38Mount Pleasant, SC5.8-0 pts
39Moncks Corner, SC5.6-2.4 pts
40James Island, SC5.4+1.3 pts
41Bluffton, SC4.8-0.6 pts
42Fort Mill, SC3.7-0.9 pts
43Tega Cay, SC0.6+0.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_south_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Cities in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"South Carolina","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=poverty_rate_acs&level=municipality&within=South%20Carolina&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Clemson, SC, with 36.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Tega Cay, SC, with 0.6% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in South Carolina: more rankings