The Town FilesJohnston, South Carolina
Town in Edgefield County · population 1,997 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,600
- Household income
- $34,412
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 46.9
Johnston is a town of 1,997 people in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $106,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 96% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 88% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Johnston 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 Johnston is worth $106,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $34,412, which is more affordable than 66% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $491 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Johnston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $491 | $937 |
| Median household income | $34,412 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Johnston
| People | Johnston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Johnston
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 7, 1998 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Edgefield County since 1996
Edgefield County has been included in 22 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 Edgefield County
Edgefield County had 6,014 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,678 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Johnston itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Johnston
4 public schools with 1,411 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Thurmond High | 9-12 | 776 | 17.2 |
| Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle | 6-8 | 390 | 12.6 |
| Johnston Elementary | PK-5 | 245 | 10.2 |
| Strom Thurmond Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Johnston
- Edgefield, SC7.8 mi · 2,322 people · home $122,500
- Ridge Spring, SC8.3 mi · 579 people · home $69,600
- Saluda, SC11.7 mi · 3,122 people · home $77,700
- Batesburg-Leesville, SC16.8 mi · 5,270 people · home $135,100
- Murphys Estates, SC18.0 mi · 1,719 people · home $189,300
- Graniteville, SC18.6 mi · 2,439 people · home $112,200
- Warrenville, SC19.8 mi · 1,134 people · home $75,500
- Gloverville, SC21.2 mi · 2,406 people · home $89,800
Johnston questions
Is Johnston, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Johnston scores better for retirees than 84% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 67%. 30.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Johnston?
The median owner-occupied home in Johnston is valued at $106,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,412, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $491 a month.
What is the weather like in Johnston?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Johnston get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 7, 1998. 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)