The Town FilesGeorgetown, South Carolina
City in Georgetown County · population 8,403 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,100
- Household income
- $56,981
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 91°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.3
Georgetown is a city of 8,403 people in Georgetown County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $168,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more seaside character than 93% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How Georgetown 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 Georgetown is worth $168,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,981, which is more affordable than 69% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Georgetown | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $780 | $937 |
| Median household income | $56,981 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Georgetown
| People | Georgetown | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Georgetown
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 37.0°F. About 55.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 34 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Georgetown since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 11, 2002 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 9, 2016.
Severe weather in Georgetown County since 1996
Georgetown County has been included in 30 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 Georgetown County
Georgetown County had 26,006 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,335 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Georgetown itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Georgetown
8 public schools with 3,536 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown High | 9-12 | 917 | 12.2 |
| Georgetown Middle | 6-8 | 682 | 11.8 |
| Kensington Elementary | PK-5 | 565 | 12.0 |
| Maryville Elementary | PK-5 | 477 | 13.3 |
| McDonald Elementary | PK-5 | 386 | 10.4 |
| Sampit Elementary | PK-5 | 283 | 14.2 |
| Brown's Ferry Elementary School for the Creative and Perform | PK-5 | 149 | 9.9 |
| Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion | PK-5 | 77 | 7.7 |
Towns near Georgetown
- Litchfield Beach, SC11.9 mi · 8,370 people · home $459,000
- Andrews, SC17.3 mi · 2,575 people · home $116,400
- Murrells Inlet, SC18.1 mi · 9,740 people · home $366,000
- Garden City, SC21.9 mi · 10,235 people · home $217,400
- Surfside Beach, SC24.0 mi · 4,155 people · home $450,100
- Socastee, SC26.8 mi · 22,213 people · home $234,200
Georgetown questions
Is Georgetown, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Georgetown scores better for retirees than 45% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 65%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Georgetown?
The median owner-occupied home in Georgetown is valued at $168,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,981, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Georgetown?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 37.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Georgetown get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Georgetown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 11, 2002. 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)