The Town FilesCottageville, South Carolina
Town in Colleton County · population 701 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,700
- Household income
- $80,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.7
Cottageville is a town of 701 people in Colleton County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $164,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks quieter than 97% of South Carolina towns.
- #9 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina
- #10 in The 16 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina With Mild Winters
- #11 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Carolina
- #18 in 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #20 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in South Carolina
How Cottageville 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 Cottageville is worth $164,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $80,938, which is more affordable than 93% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cottageville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $934 | $937 |
| Median household income | $80,938 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cottageville
| People | Cottageville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 32.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 45.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Cottageville
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottageville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 13, 2020 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 20, 2008.
Severe weather in Colleton County since 1996
Colleton County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Colleton County
Colleton County had 10,285 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,150 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Cottageville itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Cottageville
1 public school with 475 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottageville Elementary | PK-5 | 475 | 14.4 |
Towns near Cottageville
- Walterboro, SC11.7 mi · 5,544 people · home $183,500
- Ridgeville, SC14.4 mi · 1,672 people · home $181,800
- Summerville, SC18.1 mi · 50,915 people · home $328,100
- Ravenel, SC18.2 mi · 2,542 people · home $238,700
- St. George, SC18.2 mi · 1,843 people · home $113,500
- Harleyville, SC18.9 mi · 666 people · home $199,600
- Lincolnville, SC19.5 mi · 1,147 people · home $245,100
- Hollywood, SC20.6 mi · 5,339 people · home $460,100
Cottageville questions
Is Cottageville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cottageville scores better for retirees than 66% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Cottageville?
The median owner-occupied home in Cottageville is valued at $164,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,938, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Cottageville?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Cottageville get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottageville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 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)