The Town FilesAbbeville, South Carolina
City in Abbeville County · population 4,874 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,400
- Household income
- $40,575
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.1
Abbeville is a city of 4,874 people in Abbeville County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $106,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for retirees than 87% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 80% of South Carolina towns.
How Abbeville 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 Abbeville is worth $106,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $40,575, which is more affordable than 79% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $587 a month. 51.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Abbeville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $587 | $937 |
| Median household income | $40,575 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Abbeville
| People | Abbeville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Abbeville
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Abbeville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 31, 1973 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Abbeville County since 1996
Abbeville County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Abbeville County
Abbeville County had 5,772 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,349 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Abbeville itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Abbeville
6 public schools with 1,754 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville High | 9-12 | 427 | 13.8 |
| Long Cane Primary | PK-2 | 384 | 14.2 |
| Wright Middle | 6-8 | 344 | 12.3 |
| Diamond Hill Elementary | PK-7 | 307 | 14.6 |
| Westwood Elementary | 3-5 | 292 | 12.7 |
| Abbeville City Career Center | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Abbeville
- Greenwood, SC12.9 mi · 22,545 people · home $136,300
- Honea Path, SC18.6 mi · 3,686 people · home $155,400
- Belton, SC24.8 mi · 4,335 people · home $133,500
- Homeland Park, SC25.4 mi · 6,445 people · home $103,700
- Anderson, SC28.1 mi · 28,106 people · home $218,200
- Elberton, GA28.8 mi · 4,640 people · home $114,900
Abbeville questions
Is Abbeville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Abbeville scores better for retirees than 87% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 80%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Abbeville?
The median owner-occupied home in Abbeville is valued at $106,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,575, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $587 a month.
What is the weather like in Abbeville?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Abbeville get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Abbeville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 31, 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)