The Town FilesPickens, South Carolina
City in Pickens County · population 3,388 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,100
- Household income
- $55,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 40.6
Pickens is a city of 3,388 people in Pickens County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $204,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 71% of South Carolina towns.
How Pickens 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 Pickens is worth $204,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $55,000, which is more affordable than 41% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pickens | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $828 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Pickens
| People | Pickens | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Pickens
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.4°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pickens since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 23, 2022 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Pickens County since 1996
Pickens County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4908: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5575: Table Rock Fire |
| March 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5576: Table Rock Fire Complex |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Pickens County
Pickens County had 39,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,824 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Pickens itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Pickens
6 public schools with 3,512 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens High | 9-12 | 1,281 | 16.2 |
| Hagood Elementary | PK-5 | 575 | 16.9 |
| Pickens Middle | 6-8 | 525 | 13.8 |
| Pickens Elementary | PK-5 | 501 | 13.9 |
| Ambler Elementary | PK-5 | 342 | 15.5 |
| Youth Leadership Academy (charter) | 6-8 | 288 | 15.2 |
Towns near Pickens
- Arial, SC4.8 mi · 2,729 people · home $181,300
- Liberty, SC6.6 mi · 3,366 people · home $174,300
- Easley, SC8.4 mi · 22,921 people · home $263,500
- Central, SC11.4 mi · 5,247 people · home $256,600
- Keowee Key, SC12.3 mi · 2,716 people · home $556,000
- Berea, SC13.8 mi · 15,578 people · home $204,700
- Powdersville, SC14.1 mi · 10,025 people · home $334,900
- Welcome, SC14.4 mi · 7,298 people · home $206,300
Pickens questions
Is Pickens, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pickens scores better for retirees than 15% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 60%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Pickens?
The median owner-occupied home in Pickens is valued at $204,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,000, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Pickens?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Pickens get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pickens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 23, 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)