The Town FilesCentral, South Carolina
Town in Pickens County · population 5,247 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,600
- Household income
- $60,258
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 24.0
Central is a town of 5,247 people in Pickens County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $256,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of South Carolina towns, more of a college town than 98% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 97% of South Carolina towns.
How Central 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 Central is worth $256,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $60,258, which is more affordable than 25% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $876 a month. 26.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $876 | $937 |
| Median household income | $60,258 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 26.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central
| People | Central | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Central
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 29, 1991.
Severe weather in Pickens County since 1996
Pickens County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| 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-5575: Table Rock Fire |
| March 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5576: Table Rock Fire Complex |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Pickens County
Pickens County had 39,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,824 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Central itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Central
3 public schools with 2,484 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. W. Daniel High | 9-12 | 1,216 | 18.7 |
| R. C. Edwards Middle | 6-8 | 783 | 16.7 |
| Central Academy of the Arts | PK-5 | 485 | 14.7 |
Towns near Central
- Clemson, SC3.7 mi · 17,681 people · home $398,400
- Clemson University, SC4.9 mi · 7,311 people · home —
- Pendleton, SC6.2 mi · 3,489 people · home $250,500
- Liberty, SC6.5 mi · 3,366 people · home $174,300
- Keowee Key, SC9.5 mi · 2,716 people · home $556,000
- Seneca, SC10.9 mi · 8,850 people · home $240,000
- Arial, SC11.3 mi · 2,729 people · home $181,300
- Pickens, SC11.4 mi · 3,388 people · home $204,100
Central questions
Is Central, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central scores better for retirees than 29% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 10%. 7.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.0).
How much does a house cost in Central?
The median owner-occupied home in Central is valued at $256,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,258, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $876 a month.
What is the weather like in Central?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Central get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)