The Town FilesGreat Falls, South Carolina
Town in Chester County · population 1,951 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $60,400
- Household income
- $30,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.3
Great Falls is a town of 1,951 people in Chester County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $60,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 89% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 88% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 85% of South Carolina towns.
How Great Falls 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 Great Falls is worth $60,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $30,458, which is more affordable than 93% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Great Falls | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $60,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $867 | $937 |
| Median household income | $30,458 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Great Falls
| People | Great Falls | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Great Falls
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Great Falls since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 5, 2020 about 2.1 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 26 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 Great Falls itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Great Falls
2 public schools with 718 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls High | 6-12 | 377 | 13.5 |
| Great Falls Elementary | PK-5 | 341 | 14.2 |
Towns near Great Falls
- Fort Lawn, SC8.9 mi · 962 people · home $185,300
- Irwin, SC9.6 mi · 1,321 people · home $176,900
- Springdale, SC10.1 mi · 2,492 people · home $114,700
- Elgin, SC12.3 mi · 2,357 people · home $191,700
- Lancaster, SC12.7 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Heath Springs, SC13.2 mi · 742 people · home $109,100
- Winnsboro, SC17.6 mi · 3,215 people · home $132,400
- Winnsboro Mills, SC17.6 mi · 1,632 people · home $99,100
Great Falls questions
Is Great Falls, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Great Falls scores better for retirees than 31% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 78%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Great Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Great Falls is valued at $60,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,458, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Great Falls?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Great Falls get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Great Falls 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)