The Town FilesChapin, South Carolina
Town in Lexington County · population 1,809 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,000
- Household income
- $79,922
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 43.0
Chapin is a town of 1,809 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $221,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for families than 97% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 97% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How Chapin 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 Chapin is worth $221,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $79,922, which is more affordable than 74% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,570 a month. 86.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chapin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,570 | $937 |
| Median household income | $79,922 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Chapin
| People | Chapin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Chapin
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapin since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2008 about 2.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on November 8, 2025.
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 Chapin itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Chapin
8 public schools with 6,812 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapin High | 9-12 | 1,630 | 15.1 |
| Spring Hill High | 9-12 | 1,102 | 12.7 |
| Chapin Middle | 7-8 | 1,030 | 14.3 |
| Chapin Intermediate | 5-6 | 952 | 16.1 |
| Chapin Elementary | PK-4 | 792 | 13.2 |
| Lake Murray Elementary | K-4 | 766 | 13.7 |
| Piney Woods Elementary | PK-4 | 540 | 12.3 |
| Center for Advanced Technical Studies | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Chapin
- Lake Murray of Richland, SC5.2 mi · 8,110 people · home $422,100
- Irmo, SC9.3 mi · 11,569 people · home $203,400
- Prosperity, SC11.3 mi · 1,178 people · home $152,200
- Lexington, SC13.7 mi · 23,568 people · home $297,700
- Seven Oaks, SC14.0 mi · 14,652 people · home $208,400
- St. Andrews, SC15.5 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- Oak Grove, SC16.6 mi · 12,899 people · home $210,300
- Newberry, SC16.9 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
Chapin questions
Is Chapin, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chapin scores better for retirees than 42% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 69%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Chapin?
The median owner-occupied home in Chapin is valued at $221,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,922, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,570 a month.
What is the weather like in Chapin?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Chapin get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapin 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)