The Town FilesOakland, South Carolina
Community in Sumter County · population 1,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,200
- Household income
- $68,778
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 30.7
Oakland is a community of 1,099 people in Sumter County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $123,200, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 82% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 71% of South Carolina towns.
How Oakland 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 Oakland is worth $123,200, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $68,778, which is more affordable than 96% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,545 a month. 59.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,545 | $937 |
| Median household income | $68,778 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.8% | — |
Who lives in Oakland
| People | Oakland | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 34.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Oakland
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 46.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 2004 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Sumter County since 1996
Sumter County has been included in 28 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 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 Sumter County
Sumter County had 35,179 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,273 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Oakland itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Oakland
2 public schools with 865 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Hills Elementary | 4-5 | 441 | 18.4 |
| Shaw Heights Elementary | 2-3 | 424 | 15.7 |
Towns near Oakland
- Stateburg, SC2.0 mi · 1,593 people · home $206,700
- Cherryvale, SC3.5 mi · 2,405 people · home $90,500
- Dalzell, SC4.2 mi · 3,175 people · home $157,500
- Sumter, SC6.7 mi · 43,463 people · home $199,100
- Cane Savannah, SC7.4 mi · 1,335 people · home $265,500
- Wedgefield, SC7.6 mi · 1,507 people · home $26,500
- Mulberry, SC9.8 mi · 540 people · home $148,600
- South Sumter, SC11.6 mi · 1,989 people · home $69,900
Oakland questions
Is Oakland, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland scores better for retirees than 91% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 71%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.7).
How much does a house cost in Oakland?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland is valued at $123,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,778, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,545 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Oakland get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 2004. 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)