The Town FilesRidgeville, South Carolina
Town in Dorchester County · population 1,672 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,800
- Household income
- $55,637
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.7
Ridgeville is a town of 1,672 people in Dorchester County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $181,800, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 93% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Ridgeville 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 Ridgeville is worth $181,800, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $55,637, which is more affordable than 56% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,393 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgeville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,393 | $937 |
| Median household income | $55,637 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ridgeville
| People | Ridgeville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 2.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ridgeville
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 34.5°F. About 52.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgeville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 13, 2020 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Dorchester County since 1996
Dorchester 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 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 Dorchester County
Dorchester County had 41,444 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,559 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Ridgeville itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Ridgeville
5 public schools with 603 students, about 7.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harleyville Elementary | PK-5 | 265 | 13.3 |
| Clay Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 173 | 13.3 |
| Harleyville-Ridgeville Middle | 6-8 | 164 | 8.6 |
| MacDougall High | 9-12 | 1 | 0.3 |
| Dorchester Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ridgeville
- Summerville, SC10.1 mi · 50,915 people · home $328,100
- Harleyville, SC11.1 mi · 666 people · home $199,600
- Lincolnville, SC11.2 mi · 1,147 people · home $245,100
- Sangaree, SC12.0 mi · 7,781 people · home $251,800
- Ladson, SC13.5 mi · 15,550 people · home $234,900
- Cottageville, SC14.4 mi · 701 people · home $164,700
- St. George, SC16.4 mi · 1,843 people · home $113,500
- Holly Hill, SC17.1 mi · 1,298 people · home $232,000
Ridgeville questions
Is Ridgeville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgeville scores better for retirees than 84% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 9.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Ridgeville?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgeville is valued at $181,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,637, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,393 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgeville?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 34.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Ridgeville get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgeville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 13, 2020. 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)