The Town FilesSeneca, South Carolina
City in Oconee County · population 8,850 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,000
- Household income
- $52,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.6
Seneca is a city of 8,850 people in Oconee County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $240,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 83% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 82% of South Carolina towns.
How Seneca 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 Seneca is worth $240,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $52,022, which is more affordable than 19% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $807 a month. 51.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Seneca | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $807 | $937 |
| Median household income | $52,022 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Seneca
| People | Seneca | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Seneca
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Seneca since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Oconee County since 1996
Oconee County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4908: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Oconee County
Oconee County had 25,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,970 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Seneca itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Seneca
6 public schools with 3,865 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca High | 9-12 | 1,022 | 17.9 |
| Seneca Middle | 6-8 | 763 | 14.4 |
| Northside Elementary | PK-5 | 656 | 12.6 |
| Blue Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 569 | 11.4 |
| Ravenel Elementary | PK-5 | 519 | 12.1 |
| Keowee Elementary | PK-5 | 336 | 12.4 |
Towns near Seneca
- Clemson University, SC7.4 mi · 7,311 people · home —
- Walhalla, SC8.0 mi · 4,072 people · home $171,900
- Clemson, SC8.8 mi · 17,681 people · home $398,400
- Keowee Key, SC10.1 mi · 2,716 people · home $556,000
- Central, SC10.9 mi · 5,247 people · home $256,600
- Pendleton, SC10.9 mi · 3,489 people · home $250,500
- Reed Creek, GA16.9 mi · 2,724 people · home $342,900
- Liberty, SC17.1 mi · 3,366 people · home $174,300
Seneca questions
Is Seneca, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Seneca scores better for retirees than 74% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 29%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Seneca?
The median owner-occupied home in Seneca is valued at $240,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,022, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $807 a month.
What is the weather like in Seneca?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Seneca get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Seneca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)