The Town FilesWalterboro, South Carolina
City in Colleton County · population 5,544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,500
- Household income
- $56,457
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.2
Walterboro is a city of 5,544 people in Colleton County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $183,500, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 74% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 71% of South Carolina towns.
How Walterboro 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 Walterboro is worth $183,500, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $56,457, which is more affordable than 56% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walterboro | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $965 | $937 |
| Median household income | $56,457 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Walterboro
| People | Walterboro | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Walterboro
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walterboro since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 13, 2020 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 14, 2006.
Severe weather in Colleton County since 1996
Colleton County has been included in 28 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 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Colleton County
Colleton County had 10,285 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,150 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Walterboro itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Walterboro
7 public schools with 4,024 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleton County High | 9-12 | 1,396 | 17.2 |
| Colleton County Middle | 6-8 | 1,070 | 15.3 |
| Forest Hills Elementary | 1-5 | 463 | 13.6 |
| Northside Elementary | 1-5 | 443 | 15.3 |
| Black Street Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 328 | 15.6 |
| Hendersonville Elementary | PK-5 | 324 | 16.2 |
| Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Walterboro
- Hampton, SC25.2 mi · 2,694 people · home $206,400
- Ravenel, SC27.2 mi · 2,542 people · home $238,700
- Hollywood, SC29.5 mi · 5,339 people · home $460,100
- Summerville, SC29.7 mi · 50,915 people · home $328,100
Walterboro questions
Is Walterboro, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walterboro scores better for retirees than 33% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 19%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Walterboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Walterboro is valued at $183,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,457, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Walterboro?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Walterboro get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walterboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 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)