The Town FilesYork, South Carolina
City in York County · population 8,503 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,600
- Household income
- $56,176
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 35.0
York is a city of 8,503 people in York County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $198,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 87% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 84% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of South Carolina towns.
How York 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 York is worth $198,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,176, which is more affordable than 49% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | York | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $896 | $937 |
| Median household income | $56,176 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in York
| People | York | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in York
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 44.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of York since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1973 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| 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 York County
York County had 104,775 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,068 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in York itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in York
8 public schools with 4,566 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Comprehensive High | 9-12 | 1,525 | 17.5 |
| York Middle | 7-8 | 786 | 12.7 |
| York Intermediate | 5-6 | 640 | 14.9 |
| Cotton Belt Elementary | PK-4 | 424 | 13.3 |
| Hunter Street Elementary | PK-4 | 403 | 12.2 |
| Harold C. Johnson Elementary | PK-4 | 400 | 12.5 |
| Jefferson Elementary | PK-4 | 388 | 11.4 |
| Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near York
- Clover, SC8.1 mi · 6,671 people · home $295,700
- Newport, SC8.6 mi · 4,744 people · home $342,000
- Lake Wylie, SC11.6 mi · 13,655 people · home $485,600
- India Hook, SC11.7 mi · 3,817 people · home $348,300
- Rock Hill, SC12.7 mi · 74,372 people · home $295,100
- Tega Cay, SC13.0 mi · 12,832 people · home $529,200
- Baxter Village, SC14.6 mi · 4,217 people · home $670,500
- Fort Mill, SC16.6 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
York questions
Is York, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, York scores better for retirees than 22% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 34%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in York?
The median owner-occupied home in York is valued at $198,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,176, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in York?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does York get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of York since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1973. 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)