Poverty and living standards in South Carolina, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 13.3% of people in South Carolina lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 708,371 people; joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in South Carolina gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for South Carolina was 13.9% (695,259 people), so the rate is down 0.6 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in South Carolina?
18.1% of children under 18 in South Carolina were in poverty in 2024, about 205,764 children; 11th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 18.9% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in South Carolina?
The Gini index of household income inequality in South Carolina was 0.4662 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 26th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in South Carolina are cost-burdened?
52.6% of renting households in South Carolina spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 26.6% spent half or more; the 30% share is 9th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in South Carolina get food stamps?
9.5% of households in South Carolina (211,371) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 50% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 66% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in South Carolina?
An average of 591,369 people in South Carolina received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 1.7% on fiscal 2024 (581,593), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in South Carolina?
SNAP benefits paid in South Carolina totaled $1.4 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $199.21 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 6th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in South Carolina?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 4,398 people experiencing homelessness in South Carolina, down 4.2% on 2024 (4,593) and up 5.4% on 2019 (4,172); 21st smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in South Carolina sleep outside?
Of those counted in South Carolina in January 2025, 2,975 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,423 (32.4%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 20th highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in South Carolina?
The January 2025 count in South Carolina included 725 people in families with children, 469 children under 18, 914 chronically homeless individuals and 380 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in South Carolina are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 14.4% of households in South Carolina were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 7th highest among the 50 states and DC and statistically higher than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in South Carolina getting worse?
7.0% of households in South Carolina had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 11.2% in 2018-20 and 14.1% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +3.2 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow South Carolina compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
South Carolina ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Texas | 13.4% |
| 12 | Michigan | 13.4% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 13.3% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 13.3% |
| 15 | Georgia | 12.8% |
| 16 | Ohio | 12.6% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 12.6% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
South Carolina ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 18.4% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 18.1% |
| 12 | Texas | 17.9% |
| 13 | New York | 17.9% |
| 14 | Michigan | 17.7% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
South Carolina ranks 26 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
| 24 | Michigan | 0.4679 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 0.4668 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 0.4662 |
| 27 | Nevada | 0.4653 |
| 28 | Missouri | 0.4634 |
| 29 | Ohio | 0.4631 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
South Carolina ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Connecticut | 54.1% |
| 7 | Georgia | 53.1% |
| 8 | Texas | 52.7% |
| 9 | South Carolina | 52.6% |
| 10 | Colorado | 52.5% |
| 11 | Arizona | 52.4% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 52.4% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
South Carolina ranks 33 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Maryland | 10.3% |
| 31 | Arizona | 10.2% |
| 32 | Delaware | 10.0% |
| 33 | South Carolina | 9.5% |
| 34 | Tennessee | 9.4% |
| 35 | Missouri | 9.3% |
| 36 | Virginia | 9.2% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
South Carolina ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mississippi | 16.2% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 13.7% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 13.1% |
| 10 | Michigan | 13.0% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
South Carolina ranks 31 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 4,683 |
| 30 | Utah | 4,584 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 4,398 |
| 32 | Alabama | 4,137 |
| 33 | Connecticut | 3,735 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 3,688 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
South Carolina ranks 20 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Mississippi | 41.7% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 37.4% |
| 19 | Kentucky | 34.5% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 31.2% |
| 23 | Montana | 31.2% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
South Carolina ranks 27 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Colorado | 612,659 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 595,472 |
| 26 | Indiana | 591,860 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 591,369 |
| 28 | Nevada | 495,769 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 466,081 |
| 30 | Minnesota | 452,645 |
More on South Carolina: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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