The Town FilesCamden, South Carolina
City in Kershaw County · population 7,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $265,300
- Household income
- $63,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.4
Camden is a city of 7,788 people in Kershaw County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $265,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 97% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 74% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 73% of South Carolina towns.
How Camden 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 Camden is worth $265,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $63,576, which is more affordable than 27% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $956 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Camden | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $265,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $956 | $937 |
| Median household income | $63,576 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Camden
| People | Camden | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Camden
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Camden since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 7, 2004 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Kershaw County since 1996
Kershaw County has been included in 28 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 Kershaw County
Kershaw County had 18,335 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,084 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Camden itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Camden
7 public schools with 3,741 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden High | 9-12 | 1,123 | 16.5 |
| Camden Middle | 6-8 | 837 | 14.7 |
| Camden Elementary | PK-5 | 645 | 16.1 |
| Jackson School | PK-5 | 505 | 12.6 |
| Pine Tree Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 499 | 13.5 |
| The Montessori School of Camden (charter) | PK-8 | 132 | 8.8 |
| Dr. Gilbert G. Woolard Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Camden
- East Camden, SC2.4 mi · 3,215 people · home $183,100
- Lugoff, SC6.0 mi · 9,990 people · home $223,900
- Dalzell, SC19.3 mi · 3,175 people · home $157,500
- Bishopville, SC20.8 mi · 3,024 people · home $128,200
- Blythewood, SC22.3 mi · 4,772 people · home $384,600
- Columbia, SC22.7 mi · 136,632 people · home $264,300
- Woodfield, SC23.0 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
- Dentsville, SC23.5 mi · 14,431 people · home $163,700
Camden questions
Is Camden, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Camden scores better for retirees than 71% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 51%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Camden?
The median owner-occupied home in Camden is valued at $265,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,576, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $956 a month.
What is the weather like in Camden?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Camden get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Camden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 7, 2004. 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)