The Town FilesClinton, South Carolina
City in Laurens County · population 7,633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,400
- Household income
- $44,522
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 30.6
Clinton is a city of 7,633 people in Laurens County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $173,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 71% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 70% of South Carolina towns.
How Clinton 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 Clinton is worth $173,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $44,522, which is more affordable than 34% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $899 a month. 51.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clinton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $899 | $937 |
| Median household income | $44,522 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clinton
| People | Clinton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Clinton
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clinton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 8, 2017 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 1955.
Severe weather in Laurens County since 1996
Laurens County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Laurens County
Laurens County had 20,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,561 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Clinton itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Clinton
7 public schools with 2,857 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton High | 9-12 | 760 | 13.1 |
| Clinton Middle | 6-8 | 629 | 13.1 |
| Eastside Elementary | K-5 | 482 | 14.2 |
| Clinton Elementary | K-5 | 401 | 12.5 |
| Thornwell Charter School (charter) | K-11 | 371 | 9.5 |
| M. S. Bailey Child Development Center | PK-PK | 134 | 12.2 |
| Summit Classical School (charter) | K-7 | 80 | 10.0 |
Towns near Clinton
- Laurens, SC9.4 mi · 9,335 people · home $180,700
- Newberry, SC20.0 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
- Woodruff, SC21.3 mi · 4,212 people · home $204,800
- Union, SC21.9 mi · 8,174 people · home $109,400
- Fountain Inn, SC24.8 mi · 10,416 people · home $275,300
- Greenwood, SC25.5 mi · 22,545 people · home $136,300
- Simpsonville, SC28.6 mi · 23,354 people · home $299,300
Clinton questions
Is Clinton, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clinton scores better for retirees than 71% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Clinton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clinton is valued at $173,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,522, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $899 a month.
What is the weather like in Clinton?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Clinton get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clinton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 8, 2017. 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)