The Town FilesHopkins, South Carolina
Community in Richland County · population 2,514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,300
- Household income
- $50,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 49.0
Hopkins is a community of 2,514 people in Richland County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $99,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 98% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 96% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 95% of South Carolina towns.
- #3 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Carolina
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Carolina
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Mildest Winters
- #35 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Hopkins 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 Hopkins is worth $99,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $50,063, which is more affordable than 93% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $799 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hopkins | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $799 | $937 |
| Median household income | $50,063 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hopkins
| People | Hopkins | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 16.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 25.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Hopkins
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 37.0°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hopkins since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 2004 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 25, 1988.
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 Hopkins itself the ACS puts it at 31.1%.
Public schools in Hopkins
5 public schools with 3,078 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Richland High | 9-12 | 1,306 | 15.5 |
| Horrell Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 589 | 15.5 |
| Southeast Middle | 6-8 | 469 | 12.0 |
| Hopkins Middle | 6-8 | 463 | 14.9 |
| Hopkins Elementary | PK-5 | 251 | 10.9 |
Towns near Hopkins
- Capitol View, SC6.0 mi · 4,653 people · home $187,600
- Columbia, SC10.1 mi · 136,632 people · home $264,300
- Cayce, SC11.1 mi · 13,781 people · home $166,800
- Forest Acres, SC11.3 mi · 10,617 people · home $279,300
- Woodfield, SC11.8 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
- Dentsville, SC13.4 mi · 14,431 people · home $163,700
- Springdale, SC15.2 mi · 2,744 people · home $221,700
- West Columbia, SC15.2 mi · 17,416 people · home $201,700
Hopkins questions
Is Hopkins, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hopkins scores better for retirees than 86% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 95%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.0).
How much does a house cost in Hopkins?
The median owner-occupied home in Hopkins is valued at $99,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,063, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $799 a month.
What is the weather like in Hopkins?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 37.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Hopkins get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hopkins 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)