The Town FilesIrwin, South Carolina
Community in Lancaster County · population 1,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,900
- Household income
- $55,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 32.0
Irwin is a community of 1,321 people in Lancaster County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $176,900, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 81% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of South Carolina towns.
How Irwin 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 Irwin is worth $176,900, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $55,885, which is more affordable than 60% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 95.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Irwin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,900 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $818 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,885 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Irwin
| People | Irwin | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Irwin
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Irwin since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 5, 2020 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 24 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 Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 28,110 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Irwin itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Towns near Irwin
- Springdale, SC2.1 mi · 2,492 people · home $114,700
- Lancaster, SC3.2 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Fort Lawn, SC4.4 mi · 962 people · home $185,300
- Elgin, SC6.1 mi · 2,357 people · home $191,700
- Great Falls, SC9.6 mi · 1,951 people · home $60,400
- Heath Springs, SC10.9 mi · 742 people · home $109,100
- Catawba, SC11.0 mi · 1,301 people · home $216,200
- Van Wyck, SC11.2 mi · 848 people · home $279,200
Irwin questions
Is Irwin, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Irwin scores better for retirees than 5% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Irwin?
The median owner-occupied home in Irwin is valued at $176,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,885, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Irwin?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Irwin get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Irwin 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)