The Town FilesWhitney, South Carolina
Community in Spartanburg County · population 4,409 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,400
- Household income
- $51,275
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 40.3
Whitney is a community of 4,409 people in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $157,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 91% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 83% of South Carolina towns.
How Whitney 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 Whitney is worth $157,400, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $51,275, which is more affordable than 66% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,051 a month. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitney | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,051 | $937 |
| Median household income | $51,275 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Whitney
| People | Whitney | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Whitney
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitney since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 6.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 2, 1957.
Severe weather in Spartanburg County since 1996
Spartanburg County has been included in 25 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 Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County had 155,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Whitney itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Whitney
- Hilltop, SC2.1 mi · 3,273 people · home $125,800
- Spartanburg, SC2.6 mi · 38,732 people · home $203,700
- Valley Falls, SC3.1 mi · 8,012 people · home $256,600
- Saxon, SC3.1 mi · 3,896 people · home $90,000
- Southern Shops, SC3.9 mi · 3,663 people · home $109,600
- Arcadia, SC4.3 mi · 3,246 people · home $116,800
- Boiling Springs, SC5.3 mi · 10,405 people · home $244,400
- Inman, SC10.4 mi · 2,990 people · home $192,500
Whitney questions
Is Whitney, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitney scores better for retirees than 14% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 25%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Whitney?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitney is valued at $157,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,275, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Whitney?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Whitney get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. 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)