The Town FilesGadsden, South Carolina
Community in Richland County · population 1,301 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,900
- Household income
- $52,966
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 42.5
Gadsden is a community of 1,301 people in Richland County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $112,900, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 88% of South Carolina towns.
How Gadsden 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 Gadsden is worth $112,900, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $52,966, which is more affordable than 90% of South Carolina towns. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gadsden | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,900 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $52,966 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gadsden
| People | Gadsden | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Gadsden
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 46.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gadsden since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 2004 about 0.1 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 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 13, 1991.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 26 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 Richland County
Richland County had 227,771 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,784 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Gadsden itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Public schools in Gadsden
1 public school with 134 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden Elementary | PK-5 | 134 | 9.6 |
Towns near Gadsden
- Eastover, SC4.6 mi · 614 people · home $117,400
- Hopkins, SC6.4 mi · 2,514 people · home $99,300
- Capitol View, SC12.3 mi · 4,653 people · home $187,600
- St. Matthews, SC12.6 mi · 1,841 people · home $204,200
- Wedgefield, SC14.5 mi · 1,507 people · home $26,500
- Columbia, SC15.6 mi · 136,632 people · home $264,300
- Arthurtown, SC15.8 mi · 2,294 people · home $120,100
- Stateburg, SC16.3 mi · 1,593 people · home $206,700
Gadsden questions
Is Gadsden, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gadsden scores better for retirees than 69% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 88%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Gadsden?
The median owner-occupied home in Gadsden is valued at $112,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,966, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Gadsden?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Gadsden get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gadsden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 2004. 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)