The Town FilesNewtown, South Carolina
Community in Dillon County · population 770 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $60,600
- Household income
- $42,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.5
Newtown is a community of 770 people in Dillon County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $60,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 85% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Newtown 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 Newtown is worth $60,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $42,857, which is more affordable than 99% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $978 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newtown | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $60,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $978 | $937 |
| Median household income | $42,857 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newtown
| People | Newtown | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 15.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Newtown
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newtown since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 20, 1980 about 0.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 11, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 17, 1965.
Severe weather in Dillon County since 1996
Dillon County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 Dillon County
Dillon County had 9,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,958 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Newtown itself the ACS puts it at 27.9%.
Towns near Newtown
- Dillon, SC1.8 mi · 6,384 people · home $115,500
- Little Rock, SC5.1 mi · 658 people · home —
- Hamer, SC5.4 mi · 820 people · home $163,000
- Latta, SC6.1 mi · 1,296 people · home $108,500
- Rowland, NC10.0 mi · 885 people · home $118,000
- Lake View, SC11.4 mi · 764 people · home $75,700
- Mullins, SC14.8 mi · 4,026 people · home $95,300
- Fairmont, NC15.3 mi · 2,191 people · home $106,800
Newtown questions
Is Newtown, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newtown scores better for retirees than 81% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 34.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Newtown?
The median owner-occupied home in Newtown is valued at $60,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,857, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $978 a month.
What is the weather like in Newtown?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Newtown get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newtown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 20, 1980. 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)