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South Carolina›Darlington County

DovesvilleSC

A town of 1,120, settled in 1882.

Is Dovesville a good place to live?

The best of Dovesville’s subject grades is an A for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for health. 53% of residents live below the poverty line in Dovesville, above both South Carolina’s towns (17%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 97% of U.S. towns. On health, just 6 of South Carolina’s 263 towns do worse. Dovesville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

Small town

1,120 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

How Dovesville grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Carolina), ordered by how far Dovesville is from typical.

How grading works

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Dovesville: who provides what

Dovesville is unincorporated, so Darlington County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerPee Dee Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterDarlington County W&sa (Sc1620001) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesDarlington CountyDarlington County provides services here
SchoolsDarlington County School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn South Carolina you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereDarlington Board of Voter RegistrationDarlington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2024
ZIP code2954029540 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Dovesville.

HealthD−

Compared with most of South Carolina and the rest of the country, more of Dovesville’s adults say their health is fair or poor

34% of Dovesville adults say their health is fair or poor, above both the South Carolina town median (23%) and the median of U.S. towns (19%). 20% of Dovesville adults report frequent physical distress. Dovesville beats the South Carolina average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 23.

1%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
DovesvilleSouth Carolina townsU.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)34%23%19%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)23%15%14%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)23%15%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)20%15%14%
32 measures vs. South Carolina
3 better6 too close to call23 worse
What stands outDovesvilleSC
Fewer binge drinkers12.3%15.7%
Fewer adults who have had cancer7%8.6%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth34.5%13.9%
Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center
11.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade D

Dovesville stands out in South Carolina and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally

Of the 170 South Carolina towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Dovesville. Since 2013, Dovesville has added 146 jobs, to 157 in 2023. The median household income in Dovesville is $32,000.

0%work in town
DovesvilleSouth Carolina townsU.S. towns
Median household income$32,000$57,000$80,000
Average trip to work21 minutes24 minutes25 minutes
Working residents who work in town0.3%6.1%8%

Where working residents work

In Dovesville0%
Florence13%
Hartsville10%
Darlington6%
Cheraw6%
18 mi
median commute distance
157
jobs based in Dovesville
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 3% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

In Dovesville, expect mild winters and hot summers

Dovesville has mild winters and warm summers. Dovesville’s July high is 92°F.

92°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter35–58°
Spring50–75°
Summer69–90°
Fall52–75°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 30
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+

Dovesville faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.

52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
52Moderate riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

OutdoorsD

Conserved land covers 0.1% of Dovesville

1.2 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.

0.1%conserved
DovesvilleSouth Carolina townsU.S. towns
Conserved land0.1%1.8%4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile0.2 miles per square mile0.30.4
0.1%
conserved · 3 of 4,478 acres
1.2 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Dovesville

17pages on Dovesville
After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Dovesville

A commuter town

100% of working residents leave Dovesville for work

Where Dovesville’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

13% → Florence Florence 13% 10% → Hartsville Hartsville 10% 6% → Darlington Darlington 6% 6% → Cheraw Cheraw 6% 2% → Society Hill Society Hill 2% 2% → Bishopville Bishopville 2% Dovesville · 0% stay
157jobs based in Dovesville
0%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Questions about Dovesville

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Dovesville, SC expensive?

Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.