The Town FilesHartsville, South Carolina
City in Darlington County · population 7,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,600
- Household income
- $49,272
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 35.3
Hartsville is a city of 7,446 people in Darlington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $205,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 86% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 82% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 77% of South Carolina towns.
How Hartsville 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 Hartsville is worth $205,600, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $49,272, which is more affordable than 27% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $874 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartsville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $874 | $937 |
| Median household income | $49,272 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Hartsville
| People | Hartsville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Hartsville
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartsville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 18, 1969 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 5, 2020.
Severe weather in Darlington County since 1996
Darlington County has been included in 26 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 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 |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Darlington County
Darlington County had 20,044 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,913 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Hartsville itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Hartsville
9 public schools with 4,380 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartsville High | 9-12 | 1,125 | 14.1 |
| Hartsville Middle | 6-8 | 872 | 13.4 |
| Bay Road Elementary | PK-5 | 553 | 14.6 |
| North Hartsville Elementary | 1-5 | 473 | 12.4 |
| Butler Academy (charter) | K-7 | 350 | 14.0 |
| Southside Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 327 | 10.9 |
| SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics | 11-12 | 275 | — |
| Carolina Elementary | 1-5 | 213 | 11.8 |
| Thornwell School for the Arts | 1-5 | 192 | 10.1 |
Towns near Hartsville
- North Hartsville, SC2.6 mi · 2,775 people · home $110,600
- Pine Ridge, SC5.3 mi · 807 people · home $113,300
- Lydia, SC5.8 mi · 572 people · home —
- Dovesville, SC10.3 mi · 827 people · home $96,600
- McBee, SC12.1 mi · 758 people · home $89,300
- Darlington, SC13.1 mi · 6,149 people · home $172,300
- Lamar, SC13.6 mi · 862 people · home $127,000
- Bishopville, SC13.8 mi · 3,024 people · home $128,200
Hartsville questions
Is Hartsville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartsville scores better for retirees than 36% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 27%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Hartsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartsville is valued at $205,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,272, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $874 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartsville?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Hartsville get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 18, 1969. 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)