The Town FilesWhitmire, South Carolina
Town in Newberry County · population 1,390 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $53,500
- Household income
- $37,837
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 50.2
Whitmire is a town of 1,390 people in Newberry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $53,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 98% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 95% of South Carolina towns.
How Whitmire 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 Whitmire is worth $53,500, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $37,837, which is more affordable than 99% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitmire | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $53,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $802 | $937 |
| Median household income | $37,837 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Whitmire
| People | Whitmire | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Whitmire
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitmire since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 28, 1984 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 2019.
Severe weather in Newberry County since 1996
Newberry County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Newberry County
Newberry County had 14,366 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,024 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Whitmire itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Whitmire
2 public schools with 512 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitmire Community School (High) | 6-12 | 268 | 12.2 |
| Whitmire Community School (Elementary) | PK-5 | 244 | 12.8 |
Towns near Whitmire
- Joanna, SC12.2 mi · 1,517 people · home $88,100
- Clinton, SC14.2 mi · 7,633 people · home $173,400
- Monarch Mill, SC14.7 mi · 1,584 people · home $82,600
- Union, SC15.2 mi · 8,174 people · home $109,400
- Newberry, SC15.5 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
- Helena, SC15.5 mi · 870 people · home $157,300
- Buffalo, SC15.7 mi · 1,288 people · home $46,400
- Prosperity, SC20.7 mi · 1,178 people · home $152,200
Whitmire questions
Is Whitmire, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitmire scores better for retirees than 29% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 95%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Whitmire?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitmire is valued at $53,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,837, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Whitmire?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Whitmire get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitmire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)