The Town FilesDuncan, South Carolina
Town in Spartanburg County · population 4,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,400
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 34.4
Duncan is a town of 4,041 people in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $211,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 88% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 86% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Duncan 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 Duncan is worth $211,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 33% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,032 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Duncan | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,032 | $937 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Duncan
| People | Duncan | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Duncan
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duncan since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1973 about 4.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 89 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 102 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 20, 1999.
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 Duncan itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Duncan
7 public schools with 7,154 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| James F. Byrnes High | 9-12 | 2,315 | 18.8 |
| Berry Shoals Intermediate | 5-6 | 896 | 14.2 |
| Florence Chapel Middle | 7-8 | 882 | 13.2 |
| James Byrnes Freshman Academy | 9-9 | 810 | 16.5 |
| Abner Creek Academy | PK-4 | 760 | 12.9 |
| Beech Springs Intermediate | 5-6 | 752 | 13.0 |
| Duncan Elementary School of the Arts | PK-4 | 739 | 12.5 |
Towns near Duncan
- Wellford, SC2.5 mi · 3,293 people · home $223,000
- Lyman, SC2.6 mi · 6,173 people · home $277,600
- Greer, SC4.8 mi · 35,308 people · home $288,700
- Inman, SC8.5 mi · 2,990 people · home $192,500
- Arcadia, SC8.8 mi · 3,246 people · home $116,800
- Southern Shops, SC9.4 mi · 3,663 people · home $109,600
- Five Forks, SC9.5 mi · 17,737 people · home $452,200
- Taylors, SC9.7 mi · 23,222 people · home $257,500
Duncan questions
Is Duncan, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Duncan scores better for retirees than 43% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 31%. 10.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Duncan?
The median owner-occupied home in Duncan is valued at $211,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,032 a month.
What is the weather like in Duncan?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.9 inches of snow.
Does Duncan get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duncan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1973. 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)