The Town FilesCatawba, South Carolina
Community in York County · population 1,301 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,200
- Household income
- $59,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 35.6
Catawba is a community of 1,301 people in York County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $216,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 91% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 87% of South Carolina towns.
How Catawba 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 Catawba is worth $216,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $59,632, which is more affordable than 45% of South Carolina towns. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Catawba | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $59,632 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.3% | — |
Who lives in Catawba
| People | Catawba | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 4.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 33.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Catawba
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.6 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawba since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 24, 1997 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.50 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 Catawba itself the ACS puts it at 13.8%.
Towns near Catawba
- Lesslie, SC4.1 mi · 3,068 people · home $258,400
- Van Wyck, SC4.2 mi · 848 people · home $279,200
- Rock Hill, SC9.6 mi · 74,372 people · home $295,100
- Fort Lawn, SC9.6 mi · 962 people · home $185,300
- Lancaster, SC10.5 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Irwin, SC11.0 mi · 1,321 people · home $176,900
- Waxhaw, NC11.3 mi · 20,534 people · home $549,400
- Fort Mill, SC11.7 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
Catawba questions
Is Catawba, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Catawba scores better for retirees than 39% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 73%. 4.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Catawba?
The median owner-occupied home in Catawba is valued at $216,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,632, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Catawba?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.6 inches of snow.
Does Catawba get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawba since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 24, 1997. 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)