Barnwell, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29812
Barnwell County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,864
- 17/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $51,870
- Median income Below-median income area
- $112,900
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 15.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Barnwell pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 17th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 14th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 17
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29812 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 29812 (Barnwell, SC) fell -9.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 221.0 in 2023 to 201.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29812 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Barnwell, Barnwell County, South Carolina, home to 11,864 residents across 714.7 square miles, a density of 17 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29812 reports a modest median household income of $51,870 (19% below the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,275. The poverty rate is 23.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $112,900 (50% below the average South Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $717; owner occupancy is 76.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.7, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 more in Barnwell County, so 29812 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 29812
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Barnwell, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29812.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
45 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
34 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
23 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
23 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
18 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 29812, Barnwell, 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
11,864
Population
714.7
Area (sq mi)
17
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29812?
38.7
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
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?
$51,870
Median Household Income
-19% vs state ZIP avg
$29,275
Per Capita Income
23.8%
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Unemployment Rate
27.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29812 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Barnwell, 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)
$51,870 32nd percentile higher than 32% 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
5,141housing units
5,141
Total Housing Units
4,244
Occupied Units
897
Vacant Units
2.57
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$112,900
Median Home Value
-50% vs state ZIP avg
$717
Median Rent
1982
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
-9.1%
YoY Change (2024)
201
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+101%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29812 have decreased 9.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +101% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 148 |
| 2021 | +11.7% | 165 |
| 2022 | +4.9% | 173 |
| 2023 | +27.5% | 221 |
| 2024 | -9.1% | 201 |
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 223 business establishments in ZIP 29812, employing approximately 2,451 people with a combined annual payroll of $96,998,000.
223
Businesses
2,451
Employees
$97.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 45 | 20.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 34 | 15.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 23 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23 | 10.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 8.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 18 | 8.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 5.4% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 4.0% |
| Construction | 8 | 3.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 3.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 2.2% |
| Information | 4 | 1.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 1.4% |
| Utilities | 3 | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.4% |
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 29812 vs 29826 →
ZIP 29812 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29812
Barnwell (29812)
11,864 residents
- 29836 482
Martin (29836)
482 residents
- 29826 164
Elko (29826)
164 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29812 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29812, 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 (11,864 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Barnwell County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29812 in?
ZIP code 29812 (Barnwell) is located in Barnwell County, South Carolina. Barnwell County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/barnwell-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29812?
ZIP code 29812 in Barnwell, SC has a population of 11,864 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29812?
The median household income in ZIP 29812 is $51,870, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29812?
The median home value in ZIP 29812 is $112,900, which is 59% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29812?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29812 is White at 60.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29812?
ZIP code 29812 has 223 business establishments employing approximately 2,451 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29812?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29812 are: Retail trade (45), Other services (except public administration) (34), Professional, scientific, and technical services (23). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29812?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29812 decreased by 9.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 101%. 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 29812?
In ZIP code 29812, 54.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.3% 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 29812?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29812 is 27.1 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 29812?
In ZIP code 29812, approximately 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29812?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29812 is 23.8% 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 29812's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29812 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Barnwell, 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.