The Town FilesBowman, South Carolina
Town in Orangeburg County · population 788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,600
- Household income
- $35,347
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 44.7
Bowman is a town of 788 people in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $69,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 92% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 71% of South Carolina towns.
How Bowman 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 Bowman is worth $69,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $35,347, which is more affordable than 93% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bowman | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $848 | $937 |
| Median household income | $35,347 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bowman
| People | Bowman | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Bowman
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 36.9°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 35 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowman since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2008 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 17, 1998.
Severe weather in Orangeburg County since 1996
Orangeburg County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 10, 2025 | Flood | DR-4858: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County had 27,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Bowman itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Towns near Bowman
- Branchville, SC10.1 mi · 998 people · home $115,300
- St. George, SC12.7 mi · 1,843 people · home $113,500
- Wilkinson Heights, SC12.9 mi · 1,946 people · home $81,100
- Elloree, SC14.2 mi · 570 people · home $192,500
- Orangeburg, SC14.5 mi · 13,240 people · home $163,500
- Santee, SC14.6 mi · 797 people · home $161,800
- Brookdale, SC14.9 mi · 3,845 people · home $96,500
- Edisto, SC15.3 mi · 2,058 people · home $71,900
Bowman questions
Is Bowman, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bowman scores better for retirees than 26% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 71%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Bowman?
The median owner-occupied home in Bowman is valued at $69,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,347, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Bowman?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 36.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Bowman get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 2008. 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)