The Town FilesWinnsboro, South Carolina
Town in Fairfield County · population 3,215 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,400
- Household income
- $37,434
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.3
Winnsboro is a town of 3,215 people in Fairfield County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $132,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 89% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 79% of South Carolina towns.
How Winnsboro 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 Winnsboro is worth $132,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $37,434, which is more affordable than 49% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 50.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winnsboro | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $856 | $937 |
| Median household income | $37,434 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Winnsboro
| People | Winnsboro | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Winnsboro
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winnsboro since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 1.9 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 15, 2006.
Severe weather in Fairfield County since 1996
Fairfield County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 Fairfield County
Fairfield County had 6,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,001 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Winnsboro itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Winnsboro
7 public schools with 2,082 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Central High | 9-12 | 629 | 11.2 |
| Fairfield Elementary | PK-6 | 450 | 11.3 |
| Fairfield Middle | 7-8 | 350 | 10.0 |
| Midlands STEM Institute (charter) | PK-12 | 247 | 14.5 |
| Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science | PK-6 | 205 | 10.3 |
| Kelly Miller Elementary | PK-6 | 201 | 12.6 |
| Fairfield Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Winnsboro
- Blythewood, SC12.5 mi · 4,772 people · home $384,600
- Irmo, SC19.4 mi · 11,569 people · home $203,400
- Lake Murray of Richland, SC19.8 mi · 8,110 people · home $422,100
- Dentsville, SC21.9 mi · 14,431 people · home $163,700
- St. Andrews, SC22.1 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- Seven Oaks, SC22.6 mi · 14,652 people · home $208,400
- Woodfield, SC23.5 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
- Chester, SC23.9 mi · 5,269 people · home $123,000
Winnsboro questions
Is Winnsboro, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winnsboro scores better for retirees than 16% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 39%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Winnsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Winnsboro is valued at $132,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,434, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Winnsboro?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Winnsboro get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winnsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)