Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0Darlington spent more per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities
Darlington’s city government spent $8.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,443 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Darlington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,443 per resident in 2022: more than 70% of them
Darlington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,443 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,137, and the middle half spent $694–$1,617. Darlington spent more than 70% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.8 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Darlington itself left out).
About $1,443 per resident a year, or $3.95 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 33%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Darlington reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $894 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.52% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Darlington’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Darlington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Darlington →
Who’s in charge in Darlington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Darlington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on darlingtonsconline.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 76 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (5,901).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Darlington County School District
Darlington’s K–12 school district, shared with Hartsville, Lamar, Society Hill. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,954 per pupil, $9,616 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
South Carolina districts overall: 45% local, 43% state, 13% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Darlington’s votes are counted by county
South Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Darlington alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Darlington County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican56.1%17,017 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat42.8%12,977 votesOthers: 1.1% (337 votes).
Most votes in Darlington County: Donald J Trump
South Carolina: Trump 58.2%, Harris 40.4%
100% of Darlington lies in Darlington County. Every 2024 race in Darlington County is on the county’s page.
Darlington County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Darlington.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: darlingtonsconline.com ↗
- 2South Carolina HouseDarlington is split between 2 districts
- 3South Carolina SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of South Carolina
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Darlington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Darlington’s government
How much does Darlington spend per resident?
About $1,443 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,443 was more than 70% of 43 South Carolina cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Darlington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $894 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.52% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across South Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see darlingtonsconline.com.
Who runs Darlington’s government?
See darlingtonsconline.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Darlington yet.
How did Darlington vote in 2024?
South Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Darlington alone. Darlington County, where 100% of Darlington lies, voted Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.8% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Darlington?
78 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $312,945 (about $3.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Darlington in the state legislature?
Darlington is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The South Carolina Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 29 (J.D. Chaplin). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Darlington’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →