The Town FilesNorth Santee, South Carolina
Community in Clarendon County · population 749 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,100
- Household income
- $46,328
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 67.1
North Santee is a community of 749 people in Clarendon County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $277,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 93% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of South Carolina towns.
How North Santee 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 North Santee is worth $277,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $46,328, which is more affordable than 8% of South Carolina towns. 96.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Santee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $46,328 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 96.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.5% | — |
Who lives in North Santee
| People | North Santee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 67.1 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 59.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 3.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 21.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in North Santee
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Santee since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 8, 1998 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 20, 2006.
Severe weather in Clarendon County since 1996
Clarendon County has been included in 26 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 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 |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Clarendon County
Clarendon County had 6,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,194 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in North Santee itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near North Santee
- Summerton, SC5.4 mi · 814 people · home $164,800
- Santee, SC5.9 mi · 797 people · home $161,800
- Elloree, SC9.1 mi · 570 people · home $192,500
- Wyboo, SC11.6 mi · 3,661 people · home $253,000
- Pinewood, SC13.9 mi · 503 people · home $104,800
- Holly Hill, SC14.8 mi · 1,298 people · home $232,000
- Manning, SC15.4 mi · 3,878 people · home $157,600
- Privateer, SC19.0 mi · 1,980 people · home $121,100
North Santee questions
Is North Santee, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Santee scores better for retirees than 81% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 93%. 59.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 67.1).
How much does a house cost in North Santee?
The median owner-occupied home in North Santee is valued at $277,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,328, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in North Santee?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does North Santee get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Santee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 8, 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)