The Town FilesSummerton, South Carolina
Town in Clarendon County · population 814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,800
- Household income
- $40,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 44.5
Summerton is a town of 814 people in Clarendon County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $164,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 94% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of South Carolina towns.
How Summerton 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 Summerton is worth $164,800, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $40,469, which is more affordable than 30% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $488 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Summerton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $488 | $937 |
| Median household income | $40,469 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.3% | — |
Who lives in Summerton
| People | Summerton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 39.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Summerton
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 55.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 5, 2022 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2017.
Severe weather in Clarendon County since 1996
Clarendon 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 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 Clarendon County
Clarendon County had 6,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,194 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Summerton itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Public schools in Summerton
3 public schools with 564 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Rose H. Wilder Elementary | PK-5 | 233 | 12.9 |
| Scott's Branch High | 9-12 | 188 | 12.5 |
| Scott's Branch Middle | 6-8 | 143 | 17.9 |
Towns near Summerton
- North Santee, SC5.4 mi · 749 people · home $277,100
- Wyboo, SC8.3 mi · 3,661 people · home $253,000
- Manning, SC10.1 mi · 3,878 people · home $157,600
- Santee, SC11.3 mi · 797 people · home $161,800
- Pinewood, SC11.4 mi · 503 people · home $104,800
- Elloree, SC13.5 mi · 570 people · home $192,500
- Privateer, SC15.0 mi · 1,980 people · home $121,100
- Lakewood, SC16.1 mi · 2,810 people · home $294,200
Summerton questions
Is Summerton, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Summerton scores better for retirees than 84% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 70%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Summerton?
The median owner-occupied home in Summerton is valued at $164,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,469, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $488 a month.
What is the weather like in Summerton?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Summerton get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 5, 2022. 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)