The Town FilesFort Lawn, South Carolina
Town in Chester County · population 962 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,300
- Household income
- $60,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 30.4
Fort Lawn is a town of 962 people in Chester County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $185,300, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Fort Lawn 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 Fort Lawn is worth $185,300, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $60,288, which is more affordable than 66% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,355 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Lawn | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,355 | $937 |
| Median household income | $60,288 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Lawn
| People | Fort Lawn | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 36.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Fort Lawn
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Lawn since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 5, 2020 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Chester County since 1996
Chester County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Chester County
Chester County had 10,409 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,462 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Fort Lawn itself the ACS puts it at 10.9%.
Towns near Fort Lawn
- Irwin, SC4.4 mi · 1,321 people · home $176,900
- Springdale, SC6.5 mi · 2,492 people · home $114,700
- Lancaster, SC7.0 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Great Falls, SC8.9 mi · 1,951 people · home $60,400
- Catawba, SC9.6 mi · 1,301 people · home $216,200
- Elgin, SC10.4 mi · 2,357 people · home $191,700
- Van Wyck, SC11.4 mi · 848 people · home $279,200
- Lesslie, SC13.0 mi · 3,068 people · home $258,400
Fort Lawn questions
Is Fort Lawn, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Lawn scores better for retirees than 12% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 67%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.4).
How much does a house cost in Fort Lawn?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Lawn is valued at $185,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,288, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,355 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Lawn?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Fort Lawn get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Lawn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 5, 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)