The Town FilesLake Wylie, South Carolina
Community in York County · population 13,655 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $485,600
- Household income
- $112,097
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 38.2
Lake Wylie is a community of 13,655 people in York County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $485,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for families than 98% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Lake Wylie 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 Lake Wylie is worth $485,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $112,097, which is more affordable than 25% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,710 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Wylie | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $485,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,710 | $937 |
| Median household income | $112,097 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Wylie
| People | Lake Wylie | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 21.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Lake Wylie
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wylie since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 2004 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| 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 York County
York County had 104,775 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,068 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Lake Wylie itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near Lake Wylie
- Tega Cay, SC5.4 mi · 12,832 people · home $529,200
- India Hook, SC6.3 mi · 3,817 people · home $348,300
- Newport, SC7.1 mi · 4,744 people · home $342,000
- Baxter Village, SC7.3 mi · 4,217 people · home $670,500
- Clover, SC8.4 mi · 6,671 people · home $295,700
- Belmont, NC8.7 mi · 15,010 people · home $395,000
- Cramerton, NC9.1 mi · 5,296 people · home $343,400
- Fort Mill, SC9.8 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
Lake Wylie questions
Is Lake Wylie, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Wylie scores better for retirees than 76% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 45%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Lake Wylie?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Wylie is valued at $485,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,097, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,710 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Wylie?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Lake Wylie get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wylie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 2004. 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)