The Town FilesDillon, South Carolina
City in Dillon County · population 6,384 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,500
- Household income
- $35,891
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.4
Dillon is a city of 6,384 people in Dillon County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $115,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100).
How Dillon 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 Dillon is worth $115,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $35,891, which is more affordable than 60% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $630 a month. 53.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dillon | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $630 | $937 |
| Median household income | $35,891 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Dillon
| People | Dillon | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Dillon
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dillon since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 20, 1980 about 1.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 11, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 17, 1965.
Severe weather in Dillon County since 1996
Dillon County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 Dillon County
Dillon County had 9,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,958 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dillon itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Dillon
6 public schools with 2,888 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon High | 9-12 | 824 | 17.2 |
| Dillon Middle | 6-8 | 615 | 17.1 |
| Stewart Heights Elementary | PK-3 | 572 | 19.1 |
| Gordon Elementary | 4-5 | 444 | 18.5 |
| East Elementary | PK-3 | 433 | 18.8 |
| Dillon County Applied Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Dillon
- Mullins, SC16.6 mi · 4,026 people · home $95,300
- Marion, SC17.1 mi · 6,448 people · home $137,300
- Pembroke, NC20.1 mi · 2,823 people · home $129,400
- Bennettsville, SC22.8 mi · 7,020 people · home $92,100
- Laurinburg, NC24.1 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
- Lumberton, NC24.5 mi · 19,025 people · home $152,600
- Red Springs, NC28.4 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Florence, SC29.5 mi · 39,899 people · home $211,400
Dillon questions
Is Dillon, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dillon scores better for retirees than 47% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 38%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Dillon?
The median owner-occupied home in Dillon is valued at $115,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,891, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $630 a month.
What is the weather like in Dillon?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Dillon get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dillon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 20, 1980. 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)