The Town FilesBerea, South Carolina
Community in Greenville County · population 15,578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,700
- Household income
- $49,829
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 36.7
Berea is a community of 15,578 people in Greenville County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $204,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 85% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Berea 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 Berea is worth $204,700, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $49,829, which is more affordable than 30% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 63.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berea | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $937 |
| Median household income | $49,829 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Berea
| People | Berea | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Berea
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berea since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1973 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Greenville County since 1996
Greenville County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4908: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5576: Table Rock Fire Complex |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Greenville County
Greenville County had 296,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,216 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Berea itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Berea
- Parker, SC2.1 mi · 13,407 people · home $150,400
- Sans Souci, SC2.6 mi · 8,581 people · home $226,500
- Welcome, SC4.4 mi · 7,298 people · home $206,300
- Dunean, SC4.8 mi · 3,740 people · home $203,000
- Travelers Rest, SC5.8 mi · 7,788 people · home $284,800
- Greenville, SC6.5 mi · 70,720 people · home $487,500
- Powdersville, SC7.0 mi · 10,025 people · home $334,900
- Gantt, SC7.5 mi · 15,006 people · home $184,400
Berea questions
Is Berea, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berea scores better for retirees than 33% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 23%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Berea?
The median owner-occupied home in Berea is valued at $204,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,829, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in Berea?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Berea get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 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)