The Town FilesAiken, South Carolina
City in Aiken County · population 32,025 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $286,800
- Household income
- $76,746
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 46.6
Aiken is a city of 32,025 people in Aiken County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $286,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more upscale than 86% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 80% of South Carolina towns, more of a college town than 80% of South Carolina towns.
How Aiken 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 Aiken is worth $286,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $76,746, which is more affordable than 41% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,180 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aiken | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,180 | $937 |
| Median household income | $76,746 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Aiken
| People | Aiken | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Aiken
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aiken since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2009 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Aiken County since 1996
Aiken County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Aiken County
Aiken County had 65,165 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,331 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Aiken itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Aiken
17 public schools with 11,073 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek Academy (charter) | PK-12 | 1,308 | 12.7 |
| South Aiken High | 9-12 | 1,305 | 16.3 |
| Aiken High | 9-12 | 1,254 | 16.5 |
| Silver Bluff High | 9-12 | 789 | 17.5 |
| Millbrook Elementary | PK-5 | 684 | 14.9 |
| Chukker Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 644 | 15.3 |
| M. B. Kennedy Middle | 6-8 | 641 | 17.8 |
| Redcliffe Elementary | PK-5 | 610 | 15.6 |
| East Aiken School of the Arts | PK-5 | 542 | 13.6 |
| Aiken Elementary | PK-5 | 525 | 13.8 |
| Aiken Intermediate | 6-6 | 482 | 18.5 |
| J. D. Lever Elementary | PK-5 | 463 | 13.6 |
Towns near Aiken
- Burnettown, SC8.1 mi · 3,105 people · home $189,800
- Clearwater, SC10.9 mi · 4,079 people · home $158,100
- Belvedere, SC12.0 mi · 5,380 people · home $143,500
- North Augusta, SC13.3 mi · 24,379 people · home $233,600
- Williston, SC19.6 mi · 2,877 people · home $105,100
- Martinez, GA21.7 mi · 34,535 people · home $246,100
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA23.1 mi · 202,081 people · home $178,400
- Evans, GA24.1 mi · 34,536 people · home $366,100
Aiken questions
Is Aiken, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aiken scores better for retirees than 75% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 36%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Aiken?
The median owner-occupied home in Aiken is valued at $286,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,746, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,180 a month.
What is the weather like in Aiken?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Aiken get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aiken since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2009. 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)