The Town Files

Tega Cay, South Carolina

City in York County · population 12,832 (2020 Census)

Map: where Tega Cay is in South CarolinaTega Cay
Median home
$529,200
Household income
$142,000
Jan low / Jul high
31° / 90°
Snow a year
0 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
18
Median age
41.0

Tega Cay is a city of 12,832 people in York County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $529,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more upscale than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 98% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of South Carolina towns.

How Tega Cay 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.

Tega Cay lifestyle rankings vs other South Carolina townsRetirement85th pctFamilies98th pctQuiet26th pctWalkability63rd pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals89th pctVibrancy85th pctHip & trendy19th pctCollege town59th pctUpscale99th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransit64th pctDriving14th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Tega Cay is worth $529,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $142,000, which is more affordable than 41% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,408 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.

Tega Cay vs York County vs typical South Carolina townTega CayYork CountyTypical South Carolina townHome value$529,200$361,300$183,100Household income$142,000$89,095$53,875Monthly rent$1,408$1,387$937
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of South Carolina towns with 500+ people.
HousingTega CayTypical South Carolina town
Median home value$529,200$183,100
Median rent$1,408$937
Median household income$142,000$53,875
Home value ÷ income3.7×3.4×
Homeownership84.3%68.0%
Median year built20061981
Seasonal / vacation homes0.0%—

Who lives in Tega Cay

PeopleTega CayTypical South Carolina town
Median age41.040.0
Age 65 and over17.5%17.9%
Under 1824.4%—
Bachelor's degree or higher67.1%20.0%
Below the poverty line1.5%17.8%
Veterans7.5%—
Born outside the U.S.16.8%—
Work from home32.4%6.8%
Average commute30.6 min25.3 min
Homes with broadband91.5%87.8%

Weather in Tega Cay

July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.

Tega Cay monthly temperatures and precipitation30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32° freezing52°31°Jan57°34°Feb64°40°Mar74°48°Apr80°57°May87°66°Jun90°69°Jul89°68°Aug83°62°Sep73°49°Oct63°39°Nov55°33°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue3.50.13.13.83.53.24.04.04.03.43.03.33.60.1
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Rock Hill York Co Ap station (4.5 mi away); snow from Ft Mill 4 Nw (1.2 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tega Cay since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 7, 2004 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 6, 2020.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Tega Cay by decade01950s11960s31970s41980s31990s32000s32010s12020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 24, 1955.

Severe weather in York County since 1996

Storm events in York County since 1996 by typeHail152Flood21Drought34Tornado12Lightning20Heavy Rain9Heavy Snow12Flash Flood26
NOAA Storm Events Database, York County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 10 deaths recorded.

York County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 23, 2026Winter StormEM-3632: Severe Winter Storm
September 29, 2024HurricaneDR-4829: Hurricane Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3619: Hurricane Helene
August 5, 2024Tropical StormEM-3606: Hurricane Debby
August 31, 2023HurricaneEM-3597: Hurricane Idalia

Jobs and pay in York County

York County had 104,775 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,068 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Tega Cay itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.

Largest industries in York CountyRetail12,865 jobs · $38,880Health care & social assistan…12,055 jobs · $53,659Hotels & restaurants11,884 jobs · $22,605Manufacturing10,786 jobs · $76,872Wholesale trade4,978 jobs · $102,439Professional & technical serv…4,943 jobs · $90,848
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in York County, 2000–20230%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023York 2.8%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in Tega Cay

3 public schools with 2,520 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Gold Hill Middle6-887814.6
Gold Hill ElementaryK-584713.7
Tega Cay ElementaryPK-579513.7

Towns near Tega Cay

Tega Cay questions

Is Tega Cay, South Carolina a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tega Cay scores better for retirees than 85% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 26%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).

How much does a house cost in Tega Cay?

The median owner-occupied home in Tega Cay is valued at $529,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,000, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,408 a month.

What is the weather like in Tega Cay?

July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.

Does Tega Cay get tornadoes?

18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tega Cay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 7, 2004. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Tega Cay's Census boundary (GEOID 4571417). Comparisons use the median of South Carolina towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.