The Town FilesNinety Six, South Carolina
Town in Greenwood County · population 2,076 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,000
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.0
Ninety Six is a town of 2,076 people in Greenwood County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $121,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 88% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Ninety Six 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 Ninety Six is worth $121,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 87% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ninety Six | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $845 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ninety Six
| People | Ninety Six | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ninety Six
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ninety Six since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 13, 1973 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 1999.
Severe weather in Greenwood County since 1996
Greenwood County has been included in 20 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 Greenwood County
Greenwood County had 27,679 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,318 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ninety Six itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Ninety Six
4 public schools with 1,479 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninety Six High | 9-12 | 445 | 15.9 |
| Ninety Six Primary | PK-2 | 373 | 15.5 |
| Edgewood Middle | 6-8 | 353 | 14.1 |
| Ninety Six Elementary | 3-5 | 308 | 12.8 |
Towns near Ninety Six
- Greenwood, SC7.7 mi · 22,545 people · home $136,300
- Saluda, SC18.5 mi · 3,122 people · home $77,700
- Ware Shoals, SC19.6 mi · 1,701 people · home $82,000
- Abbeville, SC20.3 mi · 4,874 people · home $106,400
- Joanna, SC21.3 mi · 1,517 people · home $88,100
- Helena, SC22.9 mi · 870 people · home $157,300
- Clinton, SC23.0 mi · 7,633 people · home $173,400
- Laurens, SC23.0 mi · 9,335 people · home $180,700
Ninety Six questions
Is Ninety Six, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ninety Six scores better for retirees than 68% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 53%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Ninety Six?
The median owner-occupied home in Ninety Six is valued at $121,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Ninety Six?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Ninety Six get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ninety Six since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 13, 1973. 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)