The Town FilesCayce, South Carolina
City in Lexington County · population 13,781 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $166,800
- Household income
- $62,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 37.7
Cayce is a city of 13,781 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $166,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 92% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 80% of South Carolina towns.
How Cayce 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 Cayce is worth $166,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,045, which is more affordable than 77% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,360 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cayce | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,360 | $937 |
| Median household income | $62,045 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Cayce
| People | Cayce | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Cayce
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 37.0°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 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cayce since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1997 about 5.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 102 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 1984.
Severe weather in Lexington County since 1996
Lexington County has been included in 25 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 |
| 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 Lexington County
Lexington County had 132,596 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Cayce itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Cayce
4 public schools with 2,625 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookland-Cayce High | 9-12 | 1,222 | 13.7 |
| Cayce Elementary | PK-5 | 986 | 13.7 |
| Cyril B. Busbee Creative Arts Academy | 6-8 | 417 | 11.9 |
| Lexington Two Innovation Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Cayce
- Springdale, SC4.2 mi · 2,744 people · home $221,700
- West Columbia, SC4.4 mi · 17,416 people · home $201,700
- Capitol View, SC6.7 mi · 4,653 people · home $187,600
- Oak Grove, SC6.8 mi · 12,899 people · home $210,300
- Forest Acres, SC6.9 mi · 10,617 people · home $279,300
- St. Andrews, SC7.9 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- Seven Oaks, SC8.8 mi · 14,652 people · home $208,400
- Woodfield, SC9.8 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
Cayce questions
Is Cayce, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cayce scores better for retirees than 50% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 27%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Cayce?
The median owner-occupied home in Cayce is valued at $166,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,045, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,360 a month.
What is the weather like in Cayce?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 37.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Cayce get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cayce since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 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)