St. Stephen: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in St. Stephen is $65,370 (1.3× below Berkeley County median $84,358; 1.1× below South Carolina median $70,111), with homes at a median value of $100,000. The surrounding county supports 66,943 jobs (avg $68,211).
- $77,575 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $65,370 — below the South Carolina median ($70,110). Poverty rate 16.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 16% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 14.0% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 15.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 16.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $119,930 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $9,303,582 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $77,575 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $68,015 |
| Median Household Income | $65,370 (vs South Carolina $70,111) |
| Poverty Rate | 16.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $65,370 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 3% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 36.30 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 3.3% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | long commute / bedroom community |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 66,943 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $4,566,255,150 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $68,211 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% (vs South Carolina 5.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 330 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 72,902 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 220.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Nursery Totals, Grain, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 4,079 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 60,525 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,568,867 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 31 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 20 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 27 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 72 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 37 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 110 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 143 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 8 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 24 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLARTREE 10871 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 453 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | GREATER BLYTHEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $4,577,147,279 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 19,912.67 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 229,861 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 82.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 3.3% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 33.8 years (vs South Carolina 40.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 30.3% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12