Walterboro, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29488
Colleton County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 22,220
- 37/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $49,876
- Median income Below-median income area
- $167,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 17.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Walterboro pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 14th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 33rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 37
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29488 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29488 (Walterboro, SC) rose +6.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 254.1 in 2023 to 269.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29488 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Walterboro, Colleton County, South Carolina, with 22,220 residents across 595.7 square miles, a density of 37 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29488 reports a modest median household income of $49,876 (22% below the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,122. Economic pressure is pronounced: 23.5% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 13.2%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $167,300 (26% below the average South Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $950; owner occupancy is 66.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, and the average commute is 31 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Colleton County, so 29488 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 29488
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Walterboro, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29488.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
117 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
74 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
67 establishments
- Construction
Construction
55 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
50 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29488, Walterboro, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
22,220
Population
595.7
Area (sq mi)
37
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29488?
38.8
Median Age
45.8%
Male
54.2%
Female
3.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$49,876
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$27,122
Per Capita Income
23.5%
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Unemployment Rate
31.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29488 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Walterboro, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$49,876 27th percentile higher than 27% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,971housing units
9,971
Total Housing Units
9,136
Occupied Units
835
Vacant Units
2.41
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$167,300
Median Home Value
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$950
Median Rent
1985
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.0%
YoY Change (2024)
269
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+169%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29488 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +169% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.4% | 173 |
| 2021 | +12.9% | 195 |
| 2022 | +19.1% | 233 |
| 2023 | +9.2% | 254 |
| 2024 | +6.0% | 269 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 598 business establishments in ZIP 29488, employing approximately 5,981 people with a combined annual payroll of $286,060,000.
598
Businesses
5,981
Employees
$286.1M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 117 | 19.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 74 | 12.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 67 | 11.2% |
| Construction | 55 | 9.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 50 | 8.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 44 | 7.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 44 | 7.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 4.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 22 | 3.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 21 | 3.5% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 3.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 2.5% |
| Information | 11 | 1.8% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.7% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 29488 vs 29475 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29475 | Ruffin, SC | 2,874 | 9.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29488, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (22,220 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Colleton County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29488 in?
ZIP code 29488 (Walterboro) is located in Colleton County, South Carolina. Colleton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/colleton-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29488?
ZIP code 29488 in Walterboro, SC has a population of 22,220 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29488?
The median household income in ZIP 29488 is $49,876, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29488?
The median home value in ZIP 29488 is $167,300, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29488?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29488 is White at 53.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29488?
ZIP code 29488 has 598 business establishments employing approximately 5,981 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29488?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29488 are: Retail trade (117), Health care and social assistance (74), Accommodation and food services (67). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29488?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29488 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 169%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 29488?
In ZIP code 29488, 56.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 29488?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29488 is 31.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29488?
In ZIP code 29488, approximately 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29488?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29488 is 23.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29488's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29488 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Walterboro, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.