The Town FilesWare Shoals, South Carolina
Town in Greenwood County · population 1,701 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $82,000
- Household income
- $36,622
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 33.8
Ware Shoals is a town of 1,701 people in Greenwood County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $82,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 74% of South Carolina towns.
How Ware Shoals 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 Ware Shoals is worth $82,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $36,622, which is more affordable than 87% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ware Shoals | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $82,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $859 | $937 |
| Median household income | $36,622 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Ware Shoals
| People | Ware Shoals | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 57.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ware Shoals
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ware Shoals since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 31, 1973 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 64 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Greenwood County since 1996
Greenwood County has been included in 20 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 |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Greenwood County
Greenwood County had 27,679 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,318 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ware Shoals itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Ware Shoals
3 public schools with 860 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ware Shoals Primary | PK-4 | 358 | 12.8 |
| Ware Shoals Elementary Middle | 5-8 | 256 | 14.2 |
| Ware Shoals High | 9-12 | 246 | 12.9 |
Towns near Ware Shoals
- Due West, SC9.2 mi · 1,219 people · home $185,000
- Honea Path, SC9.6 mi · 3,686 people · home $155,400
- Greenwood, SC14.2 mi · 22,545 people · home $136,300
- Laurens, SC14.9 mi · 9,335 people · home $180,700
- Abbeville, SC16.4 mi · 4,874 people · home $106,400
- Gray Court, SC16.9 mi · 763 people · home $185,900
- Belton, SC17.1 mi · 4,335 people · home $133,500
- Watts Mills, SC17.2 mi · 1,654 people · home $108,300
Ware Shoals questions
Is Ware Shoals, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ware Shoals scores better for retirees than 47% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 74%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Ware Shoals?
The median owner-occupied home in Ware Shoals is valued at $82,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,622, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Ware Shoals?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Ware Shoals get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ware Shoals since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 31, 1973. 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)