The Town FilesWilkinson Heights, South Carolina
Community in Orangeburg County · population 1,946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,100
- Household income
- $25,489
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 33.2
Wilkinson Heights is a community of 1,946 people in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $81,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 86% of South Carolina towns.
How Wilkinson Heights 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 Wilkinson Heights is worth $81,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $25,489, which is more affordable than 60% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $786 a month. 29.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilkinson Heights | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $786 | $937 |
| Median household income | $25,489 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 29.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Wilkinson Heights
| People | Wilkinson Heights | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wilkinson Heights
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkinson Heights since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 10, 2004 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 17, 1998.
Severe weather in Orangeburg County since 1996
Orangeburg County has been included in 31 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 |
| January 10, 2025 | Flood | DR-4858: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County had 27,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Wilkinson Heights itself the ACS puts it at 15%.
Towns near Wilkinson Heights
- Brookdale, SC2.1 mi · 3,845 people · home $96,500
- Orangeburg, SC2.2 mi · 13,240 people · home $163,500
- Edisto, SC4.2 mi · 2,058 people · home $71,900
- St. Matthews, SC12.3 mi · 1,841 people · home $204,200
- Bowman, SC12.9 mi · 788 people · home $69,600
- Elloree, SC15.1 mi · 570 people · home $192,500
- Branchville, SC16.6 mi · 998 people · home $115,300
- Bamberg, SC17.7 mi · 3,076 people · home $157,900
Wilkinson Heights questions
Is Wilkinson Heights, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilkinson Heights scores better for retirees than 24% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 32%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Wilkinson Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilkinson Heights is valued at $81,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,489, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $786 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilkinson Heights?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Wilkinson Heights get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkinson Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 10, 2004. 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)