The Town FilesChesnee, South Carolina
City in Spartanburg County · population 829 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $103,700
- Household income
- $37,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.7
Chesnee is a city of 829 people in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $103,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 86% of South Carolina towns, more of a college town than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Chesnee 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 Chesnee is worth $103,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $37,708, which is more affordable than 74% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 54.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chesnee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $839 | $937 |
| Median household income | $37,708 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.3% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chesnee
| People | Chesnee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Chesnee
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesnee since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 89 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 30, 1990.
Severe weather in Spartanburg County since 1996
Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County had 155,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chesnee itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Chesnee
6 public schools with 3,911 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Lake Middle | 6-8 | 996 | 14.9 |
| Chesnee High | 9-12 | 796 | 17.3 |
| Chesnee Elementary | PK-5 | 629 | 14.0 |
| Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 566 | 14.5 |
| Chesnee Middle | 6-8 | 549 | 15.3 |
| Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary | PK-5 | 375 | 13.9 |
Towns near Chesnee
- Mayo, SC4.2 mi · 1,567 people · home $224,700
- Cliffside, NC8.9 mi · 530 people · home —
- Cowpens, SC9.4 mi · 2,023 people · home $160,300
- Boiling Springs, SC9.5 mi · 10,405 people · home $244,400
- Caroleen, NC10.2 mi · 560 people · home $137,500
- Converse, SC10.5 mi · 534 people · home $153,600
- Clifton, SC11.3 mi · 544 people · home $105,200
- Valley Falls, SC11.4 mi · 8,012 people · home $256,600
Chesnee questions
Is Chesnee, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chesnee scores better for retirees than 10% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 26%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Chesnee?
The median owner-occupied home in Chesnee is valued at $103,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,708, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Chesnee?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Chesnee get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chesnee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. 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)