The Town FilesSaluda, South Carolina
Town in Saluda County · population 3,122 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,700
- Household income
- $42,506
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 30.9
Saluda is a town of 3,122 people in Saluda County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $77,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 73% of South Carolina towns.
How Saluda 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 Saluda is worth $77,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $42,506, which is more affordable than 96% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $816 a month. 49.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saluda | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $816 | $937 |
| Median household income | $42,506 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 49.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Saluda
| People | Saluda | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 33.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 43.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Saluda
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saluda since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 22, 1992 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Saluda County since 1996
Saluda County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 Saluda County
Saluda County had 4,733 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,825 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Saluda itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Saluda
5 public schools with 2,476 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saluda High | 9-12 | 694 | 14.5 |
| Saluda Middle | 6-8 | 526 | 13.8 |
| Saluda Primary | PK-2 | 476 | 14.0 |
| Hollywood Elementary | PK-5 | 408 | 14.6 |
| Saluda Elementary | 3-5 | 372 | 13.8 |
Towns near Saluda
- Batesburg-Leesville, SC15.2 mi · 5,270 people · home $135,100
- Newberry, SC21.6 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
- Greenwood, SC25.6 mi · 22,545 people · home $136,300
Saluda questions
Is Saluda, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saluda scores better for retirees than 67% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 59%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Saluda?
The median owner-occupied home in Saluda is valued at $77,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,506, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $816 a month.
What is the weather like in Saluda?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Saluda get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saluda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 22, 1992. 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)