Home Insurance in Barnwell County, South Carolina
Homes in Barnwell County carry a median value of $106,000 - 59% lower than the South Carolina median.
The typical home in Barnwell County was built around 1983. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 18% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points above South Carolina's 12%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Barnwell County is 59% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 33% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 41% of owner-occupied homes in Barnwell County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 18%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 71% of occupied homes in Barnwell County are owner-occupied.
In Barnwell County, 76% of homes are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists hurricane (Relatively Moderate), earthquake (Relatively Low) and tornado (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for Barnwell County. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Barnwell County has 7 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In South Carolina, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,753 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $106,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1983 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 41% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hurricane (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 7 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,753 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Smaller communities
-
Kline
- Median home value: $104,700
- Median year built: 1979
- Owner-occupied share: 84%
-
Williston
- Median home value: $105,100
- Median year built: 1981
- Owner-occupied share: 55%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)