The Town FilesSt. Stephen, South Carolina
Town in Berkeley County · population 1,571 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,000
- Household income
- $65,370
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 33.8
St. Stephen is a town of 1,571 people in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $100,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How St. Stephen 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 St. Stephen is worth $100,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $65,370, which is more affordable than 98% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,148 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Stephen | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,148 | $937 |
| Median household income | $65,370 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.8% | — |
Who lives in St. Stephen
| People | St. Stephen | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 32.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 36.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in St. Stephen
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 38.4°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Stephen since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2011 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Berkeley County since 1996
Berkeley County has been included in 30 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 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Berkeley County
Berkeley County had 66,943 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,211 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in St. Stephen itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in St. Stephen
3 public schools with 1,232 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timberland High | 9-12 | 724 | 14.8 |
| St. Stephen Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 13.0 |
| St. Stephen Middle | 6-8 | 182 | 10.1 |
Towns near St. Stephen
- Bonneau Beach, SC6.7 mi · 1,982 people · home $253,800
- Pinopolis, SC13.7 mi · 982 people · home $416,800
- Moncks Corner, SC14.5 mi · 13,297 people · home $333,200
- Kingstree, SC19.1 mi · 3,244 people · home $177,000
- Wyboo, SC20.2 mi · 3,661 people · home $253,000
- Andrews, SC21.0 mi · 2,575 people · home $116,400
- Pimlico, SC21.1 mi · 1,208 people · home $414,100
- Manning, SC26.2 mi · 3,878 people · home $157,600
St. Stephen questions
Is St. Stephen, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Stephen scores better for retirees than 23% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 50%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in St. Stephen?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Stephen is valued at $100,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,370, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $1,148 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Stephen?
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 38.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does St. Stephen get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Stephen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2011. 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)