The Town FilesOlanta, South Carolina
Town in Florence County · population 550 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,000
- Household income
- $54,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.5
Olanta is a town of 550 people in Florence County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $115,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 99% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Olanta 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 Olanta is worth $115,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $54,464, which is more affordable than 90% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olanta | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $845 | $937 |
| Median household income | $54,464 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olanta
| People | Olanta | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Olanta
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olanta since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 1996 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 16, 2011.
Severe weather in Florence County since 1996
Florence County has been included in 28 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 Florence County
Florence County had 68,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,861 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Olanta itself the ACS puts it at 16.5%.
Public schools in Olanta
1 public school with 199 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olanta Elementary | PK-6 | 199 | 9.5 |
Towns near Olanta
- Turbeville, SC5.8 mi · 760 people · home $80,000
- Coward, SC10.8 mi · 748 people · home $154,700
- Scranton, SC10.8 mi · 648 people · home $102,300
- Lake City, SC11.2 mi · 5,903 people · home $144,300
- Timmonsville, SC13.6 mi · 2,099 people · home $104,300
- Mayesville, SC16.0 mi · 548 people · home $95,600
- Lamar, SC17.8 mi · 862 people · home $127,000
- Florence, SC18.6 mi · 39,899 people · home $211,400
Olanta questions
Is Olanta, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olanta scores better for retirees than 78% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 77%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Olanta?
The median owner-occupied home in Olanta is valued at $115,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,464, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Olanta?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Olanta get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olanta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 1996. 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)