The Town FilesFlorence, South Carolina
City in Florence County · population 39,899 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,400
- Household income
- $56,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 37.8
Florence is a city of 39,899 people in Florence County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $211,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 89% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 85% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 79% of South Carolina towns.
How Florence 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 Florence is worth $211,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $56,143, which is more affordable than 37% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $992 a month. 58.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Florence | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $992 | $937 |
| Median household income | $56,143 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Florence
| People | Florence | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Florence
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 36.0°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 25, 2010 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 17, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 2000.
Severe weather in Florence County since 1996
Florence 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 | 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 |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Florence County
Florence County had 68,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,861 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Florence itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Florence
23 public schools with 15,662 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Florence High | 9-12 | 1,879 | 18.6 |
| South Florence High | 9-12 | 1,627 | 16.3 |
| Wilson High | 9-12 | 1,316 | 15.0 |
| Southside Middle | 6-8 | 1,093 | 14.6 |
| John W. Moore Middle | 6-8 | 1,063 | 16.4 |
| Delmae Heights Elementary | K-5 | 1,004 | 16.7 |
| Williams Middle | 6-8 | 819 | 13.0 |
| Virtus Academy of South Carolina (charter) | K-10 | 686 | 12.3 |
| Henry L. Sneed Middle | 6-8 | 663 | 11.6 |
| Carver Elementary | K-5 | 589 | 14.4 |
| Lucy T. Davis Elementary | K-5 | 576 | 13.7 |
| McLaurin Elementary | PK-2 | 547 | 14.0 |
Towns near Florence
- Quinby, SC4.7 mi · 915 people · home $164,800
- Timmonsville, SC9.1 mi · 2,099 people · home $104,300
- Darlington, SC9.5 mi · 6,149 people · home $172,300
- Coward, SC14.2 mi · 748 people · home $154,700
- Lamar, SC15.6 mi · 862 people · home $127,000
- Dovesville, SC16.9 mi · 827 people · home $96,600
- Pamplico, SC17.9 mi · 1,061 people · home $142,500
- Scranton, SC18.3 mi · 648 people · home $102,300
Florence questions
Is Florence, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Florence scores better for retirees than 37% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Florence?
The median owner-occupied home in Florence is valued at $211,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,143, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $992 a month.
What is the weather like in Florence?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 36.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Florence get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 25, 2010. 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)