The Town FilesWilliston, South Carolina
Town in Barnwell County · population 2,877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,100
- Household income
- $39,484
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.4
Williston is a town of 2,877 people in Barnwell County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $105,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better transit than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 87% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 84% of South Carolina towns.
How Williston 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 Williston is worth $105,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $39,484, which is more affordable than 77% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $677 | $937 |
| Median household income | $39,484 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Williston
| People | Williston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Williston
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 46.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 39 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Barnwell County since 1996
Barnwell County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Barnwell County
Barnwell County had 4,864 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,379 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Williston itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Williston
3 public schools with 667 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Edwards Elementary | PK-5 | 311 | 13.0 |
| Williston-Elko High | 9-12 | 198 | 12.4 |
| Williston-Elko Middle | 6-8 | 158 | 12.2 |
Towns near Williston
- Barnwell, SC11.5 mi · 4,652 people · home $145,300
- Denmark, SC17.7 mi · 3,186 people · home $63,900
- Aiken, SC19.6 mi · 32,025 people · home $286,800
- Bamberg, SC23.6 mi · 3,076 people · home $157,900
- Burnettown, SC26.8 mi · 3,105 people · home $189,800
- Allendale, SC28.0 mi · 2,694 people · home $86,500
- Clearwater, SC29.1 mi · 4,079 people · home $158,100
Williston questions
Is Williston, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williston scores better for retirees than 53% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 84%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Williston?
The median owner-occupied home in Williston is valued at $105,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,484, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Williston?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Williston get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)