The Town FilesKeowee Key, South Carolina
Community in Oconee County · population 2,716 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $556,000
- Household income
- $124,788
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 65.6
Keowee Key is a community of 2,716 people in Oconee County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $556,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks quieter than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 98% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of South Carolina towns.
How Keowee Key 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 Keowee Key is worth $556,000, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $124,788, which is more affordable than 20% of South Carolina towns. 98.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keowee Key | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $556,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $124,788 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.8% | — |
Who lives in Keowee Key
| People | Keowee Key | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 51.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 3.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 30.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Keowee Key
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 29.2°F. About 61.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keowee Key since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 2011.
Severe weather in Oconee County since 1996
Oconee County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4908: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Oconee County
Oconee County had 25,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,970 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Keowee Key itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Keowee Key
- Walhalla, SC8.9 mi · 4,072 people · home $171,900
- Central, SC9.5 mi · 5,247 people · home $256,600
- Seneca, SC10.1 mi · 8,850 people · home $240,000
- Clemson University, SC11.0 mi · 7,311 people · home —
- Clemson, SC11.1 mi · 17,681 people · home $398,400
- Pickens, SC12.3 mi · 3,388 people · home $204,100
- Liberty, SC12.4 mi · 3,366 people · home $174,300
- Pendleton, SC14.5 mi · 3,489 people · home $250,500
Keowee Key questions
Is Keowee Key, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keowee Key scores better for retirees than 98% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 99%. 51.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 65.6).
How much does a house cost in Keowee Key?
The median owner-occupied home in Keowee Key is valued at $556,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $124,788, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Keowee Key?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 29.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Keowee Key get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keowee Key since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 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)