The Town FilesKershaw, South Carolina
Town in Lancaster County · population 1,693 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,200
- Household income
- $68,693
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 36.2
Kershaw is a town of 1,693 people in Lancaster County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $168,200, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 97% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 74% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of South Carolina towns.
How Kershaw 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 Kershaw is worth $168,200, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,693, which is more affordable than 83% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kershaw | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $750 | $937 |
| Median household income | $68,693 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kershaw
| People | Kershaw | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Kershaw
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kershaw since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 11, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 5, 2020.
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 Kershaw itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Kershaw
6 public schools with 3,128 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central High | 9-12 | 598 | 16.6 |
| Andrew Jackson High | 9-12 | 594 | 13.5 |
| Kershaw Elementary | PK-5 | 533 | 16.2 |
| North Central Elementary | PK-5 | 530 | 15.1 |
| Andrew Jackson Middle | 6-8 | 458 | 17.0 |
| North Central Middle | 6-8 | 415 | 14.3 |
Towns near Kershaw
- Heath Springs, SC6.1 mi · 742 people · home $109,100
- Elgin, SC11.4 mi · 2,357 people · home $191,700
- Jefferson, SC13.7 mi · 772 people · home $154,400
- Springdale, SC14.9 mi · 2,492 people · home $114,700
- Lancaster, SC16.6 mi · 8,460 people · home $239,100
- Irwin, SC16.9 mi · 1,321 people · home $176,900
- Great Falls, SC18.2 mi · 1,951 people · home $60,400
- East Camden, SC19.0 mi · 3,215 people · home $183,100
Kershaw questions
Is Kershaw, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kershaw scores better for retirees than 56% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 53%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Kershaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Kershaw is valued at $168,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,693, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Kershaw?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Kershaw get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kershaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)