The Town FilesClearwater, South Carolina
Community in Aiken County · population 4,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,100
- Household income
- $51,731
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.0
Clearwater is a community of 4,079 people in Aiken County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $158,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 74% of South Carolina towns.
How Clearwater 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 Clearwater is worth $158,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $51,731, which is more affordable than 66% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clearwater | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $735 | $937 |
| Median household income | $51,731 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clearwater
| People | Clearwater | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Clearwater
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 44.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 20 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clearwater since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2009 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 12, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 6, 2022.
Severe weather in Aiken County since 1996
Aiken County has been included in 24 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 Aiken County
Aiken County had 65,165 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,331 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Clearwater itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Public schools in Clearwater
3 public schools with 1,259 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| W.S. Hornsby Elementary School | PK-5 | 516 | 11.5 |
| W.S. Hornsby Middle School | 6-8 | 391 | 12.6 |
| Clearwater Elementary | PK-5 | 352 | 12.6 |
Towns near Clearwater
- Belvedere, SC2.8 mi · 5,380 people · home $143,500
- Burnettown, SC3.0 mi · 3,105 people · home $189,800
- North Augusta, SC3.0 mi · 24,379 people · home $233,600
- Aiken, SC10.9 mi · 32,025 people · home $286,800
- Martinez, GA11.0 mi · 34,535 people · home $246,100
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA13.3 mi · 202,081 people · home $178,400
- Evans, GA14.0 mi · 34,536 people · home $366,100
- Grovetown, GA17.5 mi · 15,577 people · home $254,300
Clearwater questions
Is Clearwater, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clearwater scores better for retirees than 13% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 12%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Clearwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Clearwater is valued at $158,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,731, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Clearwater?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Clearwater get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clearwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2009. 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)