The Town FilesElgin, South Carolina
Community in Lancaster County · population 2,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,700
- Household income
- $77,994
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 54.1
Elgin is a community of 2,357 people in Lancaster County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $191,700, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 97% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of South Carolina towns.
How Elgin 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 Elgin is worth $191,700, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $77,994, which is more affordable than 82% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 85.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $774 | $937 |
| Median household income | $77,994 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 4, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 20, 2024.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster 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 Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 28,110 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Elgin
- Springdale, SC3.9 mi · 2,492 people · home $114,700
- Lancaster, SC5.2 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Heath Springs, SC5.7 mi · 742 people · home $109,100
- Irwin, SC6.1 mi · 1,321 people · home $176,900
- Fort Lawn, SC10.4 mi · 962 people · home $185,300
- Kershaw, SC11.4 mi · 1,693 people · home $168,200
- Great Falls, SC12.3 mi · 1,951 people · home $60,400
- Van Wyck, SC14.5 mi · 848 people · home $279,200
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 51% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 70%. 30.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $191,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,994, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)