The Town FilesWallace, South Carolina
Community in Marlboro County · population 843 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,600
- Household income
- $32,703
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 59.7
Wallace is a community of 843 people in Marlboro County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $97,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 87% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Wallace 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 Wallace is worth $97,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $32,703, which is more affordable than 69% of South Carolina towns. 99.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wallace | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $32,703 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 99.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wallace
| People | Wallace | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 7.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wallace
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wallace since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 145 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Marlboro County since 1996
Marlboro County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Marlboro County
Marlboro County had 5,591 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 7.2% in 2023; in Wallace itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Wallace
1 public school with 438 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 438 | 15.1 |
Towns near Wallace
- Cheraw, SC4.5 mi · 5,040 people · home $152,200
- Bennettsville, SC10.9 mi · 7,020 people · home $92,100
- Cordova, NC13.3 mi · 1,653 people · home $155,000
- Chesterfield, SC13.5 mi · 1,357 people · home $184,200
- Hamlet, NC13.6 mi · 6,025 people · home $112,600
- East Rockingham, NC13.7 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
- Dobbins Heights, NC15.2 mi · 687 people · home $56,000
- Rockingham, NC15.6 mi · 9,243 people · home $150,800
Wallace questions
Is Wallace, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wallace scores better for retirees than 62% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 81%. 41.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.7).
How much does a house cost in Wallace?
The median owner-occupied home in Wallace is valued at $97,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,703, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Wallace?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Wallace get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wallace since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. 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)