The Town FilesJefferson, South Carolina
Town in Chesterfield County · population 772 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,400
- Household income
- $40,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 34.3
Jefferson is a town of 772 people in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $154,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 90% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 89% of South Carolina towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $154,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $40,625, which is more affordable than 37% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $314 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $314 | $937 |
| Median household income | $40,625 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 8, 1957 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Chesterfield County since 1996
Chesterfield County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County had 14,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,211 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Jefferson
2 public schools with 826 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Heights Middle | 6-8 | 500 | 17.9 |
| Jefferson Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 9.9 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Pageland, SC8.2 mi · 2,456 people · home $186,600
- Kershaw, SC13.7 mi · 1,693 people · home $168,200
- McBee, SC14.6 mi · 758 people · home $89,300
- Heath Springs, SC17.0 mi · 742 people · home $109,100
- Chesterfield, SC18.3 mi · 1,357 people · home $184,200
- Elgin, SC19.2 mi · 2,357 people · home $191,700
- Pine Ridge, SC21.5 mi · 807 people · home $113,300
- Lancaster, SC23.0 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 22% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 89%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $154,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,625, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $314 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 8, 1957. 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)