The Town FilesEdisto Beach, South Carolina
Town in Colleton County · population 1,033 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $719,200
- Household income
- $85,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 64.5
Edisto Beach is a town of 1,033 people in Colleton County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $719,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks quieter than 99% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 97% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns.
How Edisto Beach 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 Edisto Beach is worth $719,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 8.4 times the median household income of $85,521, which is more affordable than 2% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,136 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Edisto Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $719,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,136 | $937 |
| Median household income | $85,521 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.4% | — |
Who lives in Edisto Beach
| People | Edisto Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 2.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 28.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Edisto Beach
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 40.0°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 16 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Edisto Beach since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 13, 2020 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 20, 2018.
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 Edisto Beach itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Edisto Beach
1 public school with 65 students, about 5.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Edwards Elementary | PK-6 | 65 | 5.4 |
Towns near Edisto Beach
- Seabrook Island, SC9.3 mi · 2,050 people · home $1,001,400
- Meggett, SC13.6 mi · 1,390 people · home $714,100
- Fripp Island, SC15.9 mi · 963 people · home $671,300
- Kiawah Island, SC16.8 mi · 2,013 people · home $2,000,001
- Hollywood, SC18.6 mi · 5,339 people · home $460,100
- Ravenel, SC19.8 mi · 2,542 people · home $238,700
- Dale, SC22.9 mi · 633 people · home —
- Folly Beach, SC23.7 mi · 2,078 people · home $1,000,000
Edisto Beach questions
Is Edisto Beach, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Edisto Beach scores better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 99%. 48.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.5).
How much does a house cost in Edisto Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Edisto Beach is valued at $719,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,521, so homes cost about 8.4 times income. Median rent is $1,136 a month.
What is the weather like in Edisto Beach?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 40.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Edisto Beach get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Edisto Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)