The Town FilesRock Hill, South Carolina
City in York County · population 74,372 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $295,100
- Household income
- $68,771
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.7
Rock Hill is a city of 74,372 people in York County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $295,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 88% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 87% of South Carolina towns.
How Rock Hill 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 Rock Hill is worth $295,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $68,771, which is more affordable than 25% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,341 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Hill | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $295,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,341 | $937 |
| Median household income | $68,771 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Rock Hill
| People | Rock Hill | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Rock Hill
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Hill since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 16, 2011 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 24, 1955.
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 Rock Hill itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Rock Hill
28 public schools with 19,279 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill High | 9-12 | 1,998 | 16.9 |
| Northwestern High | 9-12 | 1,764 | 16.6 |
| York Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,681 | 15.1 |
| South Pointe High | 9-12 | 1,181 | 15.3 |
| Dutchman Creek Middle | 6-8 | 868 | 15.0 |
| Cherry Park Elementary School of Language Immersion | K-5 | 815 | 17.0 |
| W. C. Sullivan Middle | 6-8 | 805 | 12.6 |
| Saluda Trail Middle | 6-8 | 780 | 13.7 |
| Castle Heights Middle | 6-8 | 710 | 14.8 |
| Riverwalk Academy (charter) | K-12 | 680 | 10.5 |
| Rawlinson Road Middle | 6-8 | 654 | 13.3 |
| Legion Collegiate Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 602 | 21.5 |
Towns near Rock Hill
- India Hook, SC5.3 mi · 3,817 people · home $348,300
- Newport, SC5.3 mi · 4,744 people · home $342,000
- Lesslie, SC5.5 mi · 3,068 people · home $258,400
- Fort Mill, SC6.5 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
- Baxter Village, SC6.6 mi · 4,217 people · home $670,500
- Tega Cay, SC7.0 mi · 12,832 people · home $529,200
- Lake Wylie, SC11.5 mi · 13,655 people · home $485,600
- Marvin, NC12.2 mi · 6,358 people · home $906,000
Rock Hill questions
Is Rock Hill, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Hill scores better for retirees than 45% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 12%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Rock Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Hill is valued at $295,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,771, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,341 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Hill?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Rock Hill get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rock Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 16, 2011. 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)