The Town FilesBrookdale, South Carolina
Community in Orangeburg County · population 3,845 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,500
- Household income
- $39,449
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 32.9
Brookdale is a community of 3,845 people in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $96,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 70% of South Carolina towns.
How Brookdale 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 Brookdale is worth $96,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $39,449, which is more affordable than 83% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 45.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookdale | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $678 | $937 |
| Median household income | $39,449 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 45.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Brookdale
| People | Brookdale | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Brookdale
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookdale since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 16, 2011.
Severe weather in Orangeburg County since 1996
Orangeburg County has been included in 31 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 |
| January 10, 2025 | Flood | DR-4858: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County had 27,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Brookdale itself the ACS puts it at 21.5%.
Towns near Brookdale
- Orangeburg, SC2.5 mi · 13,240 people · home $163,500
- Bamberg, SC18.9 mi · 3,076 people · home $157,900
- Denmark, SC22.2 mi · 3,186 people · home $63,900
- Hopkins, SC26.2 mi · 2,514 people · home $99,300
Brookdale questions
Is Brookdale, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookdale scores better for retirees than 51% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 39%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Brookdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookdale is valued at $96,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,449, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookdale?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Brookdale get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)