Most Americans have never been to small town South Carolina. However, as the South Carolinian who live there know, small town South Carolina is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, South Carolina has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Palmetto State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 144 of South Carolina’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in South Carolina where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what is the worst small town to call home in South Carolina for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Denmark is the worst small town to live in South Carolina.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Denmark home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in South Carolina or the worst places to live in South Carolina.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In South Carolina For 2024
1. Denmark
/10
Population: 3,156
Median Home Value: $66,158
Median Income: $32,679
Unemployment Rate: 16.3%
2. Watts Mills
/10
Population: 2,013
Median Home Value: $58,289
Median Income: $43,401
Unemployment Rate: 13.0%
3. Ware Shoals
/10
Population: 1,934
Median Home Value: $94,078
Median Income: $32,754
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%
4. Bamberg
/10
Population: 3,074
Median Home Value: $96,651
Median Income: $27,021
Unemployment Rate: 11.1%
5. Estill
/10
Population: 2,230
Median Home Value: $81,705
Median Income: $33,405
Unemployment Rate: 12.5%
6. Judson
/10
Population: 1,879
Median Home Value: $93,209
Median Income: $28,207
Unemployment Rate: 21.9%
7. Wilkinson Heights
/10
Population: 1,919
Median Home Value: $110,205
Median Income: $22,730
Unemployment Rate: 12.6%
8. Saxon
/10
Population: 4,171
Median Home Value: $57,094
Median Income: $25,231
Unemployment Rate: 11.6%
9. Great Falls
/10
Population: 1,669
Median Home Value: $120,754
Median Income: $28,804
Unemployment Rate: 8.2%
10. Blackville
/10
Population: 2,034
Median Home Value: $82,657
Median Income: $26,667
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in South Carolina is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in South Carolina, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 144 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in South Carolina.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In South Carolina
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Palmetto State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in South Carolina are Denmark, Watts Mills, Ware Shoals, Bamberg, Estill, Judson, Wilkinson Heights, Saxon, Great Falls, and Blackville.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in South Carolina, according to science:
- India Hook (Pop. 4,385)
- Sullivan’s Island (Pop. 2,317)
- Isle of Palms (Pop. 4,347)
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In South Carolina
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 3,156 | 16.3% | $66,158 | $32,679 |
| 2 | Watts Mills | 2,013 | 13.0% | $58,289 | $43,401 |
| 3 | Ware Shoals | 1,934 | 7.8% | $94,078 | $32,754 |
| 4 | Bamberg | 3,074 | 11.1% | $96,651 | $27,021 |
| 5 | Estill | 2,230 | 12.5% | $81,705 | $33,405 |
| 6 | Judson | 1,879 | 21.9% | $93,209 | $28,207 |
| 7 | Wilkinson Heights | 1,919 | 12.6% | $110,205 | $22,730 |
| 8 | Saxon | 4,171 | 11.6% | $57,094 | $25,231 |
| 9 | Great Falls | 1,669 | 8.2% | $120,754 | $28,804 |
| 10 | Blackville | 2,034 | 3.5% | $82,657 | $26,667 |
| 11 | Buffalo | 1,159 | 10.7% | $60,413 | $19,770 |
| 12 | Fairfax | 2,035 | 14.9% | $75,150 | $42,760 |
| 13 | Southern Shops | 3,856 | 6.3% | $114,454 | $32,500 |
| 14 | Winnsboro Mills | 1,682 | 16.2% | $117,906 | $34,708 |
| 15 | Blacksburg | 2,115 | 11.9% | $136,540 | $29,564 |
| 16 | Arcadia | 2,846 | 12.0% | $96,794 | $39,931 |
| 17 | Allendale | 2,702 | 9.2% | $58,808 | $19,921 |
| 18 | Iva | 1,030 | 17.0% | $192,119 | $22,760 |
| 19 | Fairforest | 1,626 | 8.3% | $0 | $49,650 |
| 20 | Gadsden | 1,373 | 19.8% | $120,308 | $36,966 |
| 21 | Branchville | 1,301 | 10.9% | $121,697 | $34,486 |
| 22 | Monarch Mill | 1,766 | 7.2% | $102,769 | $37,500 |
| 23 | Barnwell | 4,643 | 12.4% | $147,641 | $38,065 |
| 24 | Saluda | 3,124 | 4.6% | $139,023 | $32,986 |
| 25 | Timmonsville | 2,119 | 7.8% | $149,614 | $24,758 |
| 26 | Edisto | 1,904 | 6.6% | $60,148 | $44,495 |
| 27 | Irwin | 1,868 | 11.6% | $159,067 | $40,139 |
| 28 | Brookdale | 4,069 | 12.8% | $110,470 | $33,406 |
| 29 | City View | 1,696 | 6.6% | $147,250 | $1,000 |
| 30 | Walhalla | 4,102 | 9.3% | $199,793 | $40,176 |
| 31 | Johnston | 2,375 | 6.6% | $146,508 | $31,910 |
| 32 | Langley | 1,776 | 11.6% | $44,214 | $47,848 |
| 33 | Holly Hill | 1,384 | 6.5% | $153,785 | $24,185 |
| 34 | Tigerville | 2,122 | 7.9% | $0 | $1,000 |
| 35 | Graniteville | 2,465 | 6.9% | $260,100 | $32,339 |
| 36 | St. Matthews | 1,932 | 17.3% | $179,649 | $35,950 |
| 37 | Catawba | 1,439 | 12.6% | $302,354 | $50,920 |
| 38 | Pageland | 2,726 | 7.2% | $182,802 | $38,634 |
| 39 | Whitmire | 1,255 | 5.9% | $64,940 | $32,813 |
| 40 | Calhoun Falls | 1,939 | 3.0% | $102,711 | $30,078 |
| 41 | Latta | 1,519 | 13.2% | $90,931 | $44,330 |
| 42 | Wedgefield | 2,050 | 2.9% | $100,237 | $39,750 |
| 43 | Privateer | 2,191 | 11.2% | $122,951 | $59,116 |
| 44 | Gloverville | 3,099 | 8.2% | $63,835 | $46,643 |
| 45 | Kingstree | 3,202 | 5.9% | $103,299 | $31,227 |
| 46 | Edgefield | 2,504 | 16.9% | $195,213 | $32,200 |
| 47 | Williston | 2,877 | 3.7% | $110,941 | $37,398 |
| 48 | Mccoll | 2,304 | 7.1% | $75,993 | $35,987 |
| 49 | St. Stephen | 1,386 | 8.4% | $225,450 | $37,596 |
| 50 | South Sumter | 1,564 | 7.9% | $103,832 | $40,039 |
| 51 | Pelzer | 1,480 | 12.4% | $201,423 | $51,193 |
| 52 | Gaston | 1,991 | 1.9% | $103,243 | $55,625 |
| 53 | Abbeville | 4,892 | 4.7% | $196,529 | $41,025 |
| 54 | East Gaffney | 2,972 | 3.6% | $111,400 | $30,758 |
| 55 | Winnsboro | 3,239 | 10.6% | $109,928 | $31,194 |
| 56 | Cherryvale | 2,843 | 26.6% | $120,694 | $39,688 |
| 57 | Chesterfield | 1,424 | 9.3% | $150,877 | $52,232 |
| 58 | Wagener | 1,030 | 9.4% | $45,201 | $43,846 |
| 59 | Manning | 3,862 | 9.0% | $134,581 | $27,138 |
| 60 | Santee | 1,189 | 1.0% | $215,824 | $43,000 |
| 61 | Pamplico | 1,073 | 6.5% | $126,034 | $29,125 |
| 62 | Varnville | 2,173 | 14.8% | $153,044 | $38,092 |
| 63 | Mullins | 4,014 | 9.4% | $77,969 | $38,304 |
| 64 | Burne | 3,052 | 6.3% | $195,581 | $32,279 |
| 65 | St. George | 1,901 | 0.8% | $223,670 | $28,490 |
| 66 | Slater-Marietta | 2,199 | 5.5% | $140,080 | $46,797 |
| 67 | Westminster | 2,215 | 8.9% | $197,861 | $40,750 |
| 68 | Joanna | 1,406 | 0.0% | $61,556 | $52,381 |
| 69 | Mccormick | 2,760 | 3.6% | $111,665 | $37,568 |
| 70 | Jackson | 1,882 | 3.6% | $103,858 | $36,632 |
| 71 | Gayle Mill | 1,082 | 1.1% | $36,912 | $74,022 |
| 72 | Eureka Mill | 1,889 | 9.6% | $139,954 | $33,802 |
| 73 | Liberty | 3,329 | 10.2% | $236,892 | $41,898 |
| 74 | Fort Lawn | 1,149 | 9.0% | $232,371 | $49,844 |
| 75 | Loris | 2,513 | 8.4% | $253,618 | $34,564 |
| 76 | Pacolet | 1,970 | 7.0% | $139,521 | $44,894 |
| 77 | West Pelzer | 1,155 | 3.1% | $184,494 | $43,214 |
| 78 | Hopkins | 1,738 | 11.9% | $201,890 | $57,262 |
| 79 | Pelion | 1,056 | 2.0% | $111,703 | $54,966 |
| 80 | Andrews | 3,617 | 0.6% | $143,760 | $42,337 |
| 81 | Mcbee | 1,046 | 5.2% | $106,885 | $56,964 |
| 82 | Bishopville | 2,986 | 4.0% | $132,075 | $40,909 |
| 83 | Lakewood | 3,135 | 8.6% | $358,366 | $47,290 |
| 84 | Cowpens | 1,862 | 2.9% | $183,569 | $36,585 |
| 85 | Awendaw | 1,548 | 12.6% | $659,595 | $63,533 |
| 86 | Ridgeland | 3,737 | 2.0% | $376,300 | $55,729 |
| 87 | Honea Path | 3,662 | 7.3% | $188,675 | $50,375 |
| 88 | Dalzell | 3,417 | 9.3% | $191,251 | $62,159 |
| 89 | Clearwater | 3,403 | 13.2% | $212,842 | $52,991 |
| 90 | Dunean | 3,427 | 8.6% | $199,697 | $52,500 |
| 91 | Hampton | 2,725 | 12.0% | $156,639 | $50,875 |
| 92 | Wellford | 3,330 | 2.4% | $222,809 | $53,221 |
| 93 | Cane Savannah | 1,534 | 10.9% | $276,841 | $67,619 |
| 94 | Lamar | 1,217 | 1.8% | $123,671 | $40,489 |
| 95 | Cottageville | 1,144 | 2.8% | $216,407 | $63,977 |
| 96 | Duncan | 4,053 | 3.1% | $294,706 | $58,112 |
| 97 | Ninety Six | 2,579 | 7.2% | $139,560 | $55,694 |
| 98 | Ridgeville | 1,548 | 8.1% | $355,085 | $52,864 |
| 99 | Johnsonville | 1,108 | 3.3% | $135,135 | $46,528 |
| 100 | New Ellenton | 2,508 | 4.2% | $124,228 | $56,304 |
Wow..been to all these small towns…regardless of the information posted…it is best to visit the place to get to know the people…there is alot more to offer than just numbers
I agree with you Debbie!
Snellings, I really don’t know where this information was gathered from but it’s ALL false. First I wish my house did cost 33k and education is very good my daughter can go to Williston school Barnwell schools or Christan Academy. And a lot of our community don’t work at Wal Mart whoever did this research must don’t know of Kimberly Nuclear, Kronotex, SRS or the other company’s that is local.
I am familiar with some of these towns; but most familiar with Neeses than any of the rest. I think the comments and opinions of the “writer” were misleading and quite unfair to the Home of some of my Family and Friends.
Also the town where I was first taken to Church as a child. I was too young to remember that church, but some of my relatives still live there where the have since the ’50’s.
In fact, my most senior male relative and his wife live there and I’m sure they would not agree with the premise of this article. Too bad that “writers” publish stuff like this without any consideration of the “personal” real-life stories of the “real people” who choose to call “Small town America” their home.
I have fond memories of other Families, whom we grew up with and who’s lives were molded in the same “Church Family” as I was.
Stories like this do a great dis-service to “real people” who I know and Love.
I’m sure the same goes for families who choose to live in the other towns who this “writer” tagged as a town where “You’d never want to live”.
Every time I travel US Hwy 321 through the “heart of Neeses, SC”, I don’t see it as a place where I’d “never want to live” I see it as a place that was part of molding my life because of the “People” who lived there and touched my life in a significant way.
Windsor is not that bad, I thought for sure there were more people living there, the only thing I never liked was the nosy gossipers, most of them work or have worked at Windsor general, that’s the worst store
Vance’s crime rate??
The “Chief” of police spends 100% of his time in the portion of Hwy 6 that lies within the city limits. This speed trap is that rathole’s only source of revenue.
I imagine the data he offered was correct as far as census and employment, etc. But the score is definately skewed by lack of or incorporating the wrong data into the scale. It doesn’t look like he removed the retired people for income and employment. Or the fact that any basic need or employment opportunity is a rocks throw outside of the city limit signs for these quaint little towns. This article certainly was not infotainment as he implied it was bias and ignorant. Bless his heart….
I agree Karen….. I see there are similar articles about other states….. I haven’t read them but if they are conclusions drawn only from “statistics he found on the internet” I imagine the “real people” living in those small towns and others who are familiar with them feel the same as we have expressed here. 🙁
I disagree with your analysis of Lowndesville,SC. We have lived in Columbia, Fort Mill, Anderson, and other places in SC and we love this place better than any. Sure it is very small, but the people that live here are fantastic. when we first moved here people up and down the road we live in dropped by to welcome us. They invited us to their churches and social events that they have. One of the biggest reasons that the town has lost so many younger folk is the fact that factories have closed nearby and the town could not help that. All of the few churches work together and help people out when they are sick, or if there is a death. I have NEVER lived in a town so friendly! Your article will also make it hard for people who need to move away to sell their property! Disgusting article!
Oh yes and Lowndesville is on Lake Russell with some of the cleanest water in SC and some of the biggest and best bass caught anywhere!!!!!
I believe your analysis of some of the small towns is skewed. Lowdnesville is a great retirement location. I have live all over the South–wouldn’t trade my current location for any of the former. Might add that I am not uneducated or criminally inclined. Also wish I could have purchased my home in the $40,000 range you outlined. You really shouldn’t “judge a book” by statistics, but, rather by the people who live there.
I am going to ask my friends that are on Facebook to comment on this post. I am sure that they will disagree also. The cost of living is the same as most places and we are getting a new water line put in which will be helpful if any new businesses want to open here. There are several local hunting clubs that own land or rent land because of the great hunting opportunities here. The fishing is great with a clean deep lake full of bass,crappies,catfish, and bream! there are a good many people who own homes on Lake Russell that come in for weekends and holidays and they love it here too. I am so sorry that you published these towns that you say are the 10 worst towns in South Carolina, because not only the great residents of Lowndesville hurt by it, but the other residents of these towns are hurt too! Shame on you!
I believe that my first comment is what I think about your post. Lowndesville is a great place to live and your survey should have included conversations with the people that live here.
What is the importance of an article like this. We are the Johnson family from Neeses. After leaving for New York and Philadelphia to work most of us returned after retirement and brought savings and retirement income and purchased homes and are living royalty. It is a plus to travel out on the weekend to eat, shop and attend movies. Neeses is clean, friendly and peaceful. Try interviewing actual people who have lived there all of there lives.
Mina Thompson,great comment. Your post is one reason we moved to Lowndesville. We are angry that our little town made this awful list because it is a slam on the people and the great real estate on a wonderful,clean lake,(Russell).
Thanks everyone for your being this will be my first visit to South Carolina and I will be visiting Camden for the 4th of July, can share their thoughts on Camden?