The Town FilesSantee, South Carolina
Town in Orangeburg County · population 797 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,800
- Household income
- $46,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 47.4
Santee is a town of 797 people in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $161,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of South Carolina towns, better transit than 83% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 73% of South Carolina towns.
How 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 Santee is worth $161,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $46,667, which is more affordable than 49% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $911 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Santee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $911 | $937 |
| Median household income | $46,667 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Santee
| People | Santee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in 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 0.3 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of 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 5.7 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 Orangeburg County since 1996
Orangeburg County has been included in 31 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 |
| January 10, 2025 | Flood | DR-4858: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County had 27,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Santee itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Santee
2 public schools with 701 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Marion High School | 9-12 | 701 | 17.5 |
| Lake Marion Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Santee
- Elloree, SC5.6 mi · 570 people · home $192,500
- North Santee, SC5.9 mi · 749 people · home $277,100
- Summerton, SC11.3 mi · 814 people · home $164,800
- Holly Hill, SC11.7 mi · 1,298 people · home $232,000
- Bowman, SC14.6 mi · 788 people · home $69,600
- Wyboo, SC16.8 mi · 3,661 people · home $253,000
- Pinewood, SC17.7 mi · 503 people · home $104,800
- Harleyville, SC19.1 mi · 666 people · home $199,600
Santee questions
Is Santee, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Santee scores better for retirees than 31% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 51%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Santee?
The median owner-occupied home in Santee is valued at $161,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,667, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $911 a month.
What is the weather like in 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 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Santee get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of 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)