The Town FilesSummerville, South Carolina
Town in Dorchester County · population 50,915 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $328,100
- Household income
- $81,046
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 38.9
Summerville is a town of 50,915 people in Dorchester County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $328,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 83% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 83% of South Carolina towns.
How Summerville 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 Summerville is worth $328,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $81,046, which is more affordable than 33% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,526 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Summerville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $328,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,526 | $937 |
| Median household income | $81,046 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Summerville
| People | Summerville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Summerville
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 34.5°F. About 52.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 1998 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 142 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Dorchester County since 1996
Dorchester County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 Dorchester County
Dorchester County had 41,444 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,559 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Summerville itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Summerville
26 public schools with 28,686 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | 9-12 | 3,293 | 20.7 |
| Ashley Ridge High | 9-12 | 2,735 | 20.3 |
| Cane Bay High | 9-12 | 2,490 | 18.3 |
| Cane Bay Middle | 5-8 | 1,475 | 17.2 |
| Sand Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 1,241 | 18.3 |
| Cane Bay Elementary | PK-4 | 1,226 | 16.8 |
| Beech Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 1,209 | 17.8 |
| Nexton Elementary | PK-5 | 973 | 16.8 |
| East Edisto Middle | 6-8 | 942 | 16.8 |
| William M. Reeves Elementary | PK-5 | 941 | 17.1 |
| Carolyn Lewis School | PK-8 | 940 | 14.5 |
| Charles B. DuBose Middle | 6-8 | 927 | 16.3 |
Towns near Summerville
- Sangaree, SC3.6 mi · 7,781 people · home $251,800
- Ladson, SC4.1 mi · 15,550 people · home $234,900
- North Charleston, SC9.0 mi · 114,852 people · home $302,200
- Goose Creek, SC9.9 mi · 45,946 people · home $306,000
- Hanahan, SC11.5 mi · 20,325 people · home $374,800
- Ravenel, SC16.2 mi · 2,542 people · home $238,700
- Charleston, SC17.2 mi · 150,227 people · home $509,700
- Moncks Corner, SC17.4 mi · 13,297 people · home $333,200
Summerville questions
Is Summerville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Summerville scores better for retirees than 27% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Summerville?
The median owner-occupied home in Summerville is valued at $328,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,046, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,526 a month.
What is the weather like in Summerville?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 34.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Summerville get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 1998. 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)