The Town FilesBatesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
Town in Lexington County · population 5,270 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $135,100
- Household income
- $49,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 40.4
Batesburg-Leesville is a town of 5,270 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $135,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 94% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 77% of South Carolina towns.
How Batesburg-Leesville 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 Batesburg-Leesville is worth $135,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $49,646, which is more affordable than 77% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $958 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Batesburg-Leesville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $958 | $937 |
| Median household income | $49,646 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Batesburg-Leesville
| People | Batesburg-Leesville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Batesburg-Leesville
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Batesburg-Leesville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 5, 2022 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 24, 1999.
Severe weather in Lexington County since 1996
Lexington County has been included in 25 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 Lexington County
Lexington County had 132,596 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Batesburg-Leesville itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Batesburg-Leesville
4 public schools with 1,991 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batesburg-Leesville High School | 9-12 | 570 | 11.9 |
| Batesburg-Leesville Primary School | PK-2 | 535 | 12.2 |
| Batesburg-Leesville Middle School | 6-8 | 457 | 13.1 |
| Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School | 3-5 | 429 | 11.6 |
Towns near Batesburg-Leesville
- Saluda, SC15.2 mi · 3,122 people · home $77,700
- White Knoll, SC16.8 mi · 7,858 people · home $249,400
- Red Bank, SC16.9 mi · 10,924 people · home $189,000
- Lexington, SC18.4 mi · 23,568 people · home $297,700
- Lake Murray of Richland, SC20.8 mi · 8,110 people · home $422,100
- Oak Grove, SC22.1 mi · 12,899 people · home $210,300
- Irmo, SC23.1 mi · 11,569 people · home $203,400
- Seven Oaks, SC24.0 mi · 14,652 people · home $208,400
Batesburg-Leesville questions
Is Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Batesburg-Leesville scores better for retirees than 45% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 60%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Batesburg-Leesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Batesburg-Leesville is valued at $135,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,646, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $958 a month.
What is the weather like in Batesburg-Leesville?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Batesburg-Leesville get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Batesburg-Leesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 5, 2022. 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)