The Town FilesBennettsville, South Carolina
City in Marlboro County · population 7,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,100
- Household income
- $37,115
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.6
Bennettsville is a city of 7,020 people in Marlboro County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $92,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 87% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 80% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 78% of South Carolina towns.
How Bennettsville ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bennettsville is worth $92,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $37,115, which is more affordable than 82% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $671 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bennettsville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $671 | $937 |
| Median household income | $37,115 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Bennettsville
| People | Bennettsville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Bennettsville
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 34.3°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bennettsville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 1.9 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 250 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Marlboro County since 1996
Marlboro County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Marlboro County
Marlboro County had 5,591 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 7.2% in 2023; in Bennettsville itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Public schools in Bennettsville
3 public schools with 1,777 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlboro County High | 9-12 | 1,020 | 14.2 |
| Bennettsville Primary | PK-3 | 528 | 13.9 |
| Bennettsville Intermediate | 4-5 | 229 | 12.7 |
Towns near Bennettsville
- Cheraw, SC13.8 mi · 5,040 people · home $152,200
- Laurinburg, NC15.0 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
- Hamlet, NC18.1 mi · 6,025 people · home $112,600
- East Rockingham, NC20.1 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
- Rockingham, NC21.9 mi · 9,243 people · home $150,800
- Dillon, SC22.8 mi · 6,384 people · home $115,500
- Darlington, SC24.8 mi · 6,149 people · home $172,300
- North Hartsville, SC27.0 mi · 2,775 people · home $110,600
Bennettsville questions
Is Bennettsville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bennettsville scores better for retirees than 37% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 55%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Bennettsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Bennettsville is valued at $92,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,115, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $671 a month.
What is the weather like in Bennettsville?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 34.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Bennettsville get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bennettsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)