The Town FilesAnderson, South Carolina
City in Anderson County · population 28,106 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,200
- Household income
- $46,933
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 32.7
Anderson is a city of 28,106 people in Anderson County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $218,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 92% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 92% of South Carolina towns.
How Anderson 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 Anderson is worth $218,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $46,933, which is more affordable than 19% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Anderson | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $975 | $937 |
| Median household income | $46,933 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Anderson
| People | Anderson | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Anderson
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1974 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 8, 1957.
Severe weather in Anderson County since 1996
Anderson County has been included in 21 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 Anderson County
Anderson County had 72,695 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,737 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Anderson itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Anderson
22 public schools with 13,823 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| T. L. Hanna High | 9-12 | 1,994 | 19.4 |
| Westside High | 9-12 | 1,714 | 17.3 |
| Robert Anderson Middle | 6-8 | 1,176 | 12.8 |
| Pendleton High | 9-12 | 940 | 16.5 |
| Midway Elementary | PK-5 | 721 | 15.0 |
| Glenview Middle | 6-8 | 667 | 13.3 |
| Concord Elementary | PK-5 | 616 | 16.2 |
| Centerville Elementary | PK-5 | 598 | 14.6 |
| Nevitt Forest Elementary | PK-5 | 572 | 15.1 |
| McLees Elementary | PK-5 | 566 | 14.5 |
| McCants Middle | 6-8 | 561 | 13.4 |
| Whitehall Elementary | PK-5 | 526 | 13.5 |
Towns near Anderson
- Homeland Park, SC4.1 mi · 6,445 people · home $103,700
- Northlake, SC4.1 mi · 3,818 people · home $277,700
- Centerville, SC4.2 mi · 7,185 people · home $229,700
- Belton, SC8.5 mi · 4,335 people · home $133,500
- Pendleton, SC11.4 mi · 3,489 people · home $250,500
- Williamston, SC11.5 mi · 4,043 people · home $162,800
- Clemson, SC14.7 mi · 17,681 people · home $398,400
- Honea Path, SC15.0 mi · 3,686 people · home $155,400
Anderson questions
Is Anderson, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Anderson scores better for retirees than 36% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Anderson?
The median owner-occupied home in Anderson is valued at $218,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,933, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Anderson?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Anderson get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1974. 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)