The Town FilesYemassee, South Carolina
Town in Hampton County · population 1,080 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $161,600
- Household income
- $44,896
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.5
Yemassee is a town of 1,080 people in Hampton County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $161,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more seaside character than 90% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 79% of South Carolina towns.
How Yemassee 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 Yemassee is worth $161,600, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $44,896, which is more affordable than 45% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $748 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yemassee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,600 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $748 | $937 |
| Median household income | $44,896 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Yemassee
| People | Yemassee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 38.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Yemassee
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 36.2°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yemassee since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 13, 2020 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2025.
Severe weather in Hampton County since 1996
Hampton County has been included in 25 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 Hampton County
Hampton County had 4,867 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,768 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Yemassee itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Yemassee
1 public school with 132 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennell Elementary | PK-6 | 132 | 13.2 |
Towns near Yemassee
- Sheldon, SC8.0 mi · 579 people · home $45,000
- Seabrook, SC12.9 mi · 1,255 people · home —
- Dale, SC13.8 mi · 633 people · home —
- Ridgeland, SC15.8 mi · 3,758 people · home $228,400
- Varnville, SC16.3 mi · 1,669 people · home $115,800
- Laurel Bay, SC16.9 mi · 5,082 people · home $231,800
- Hampton, SC18.3 mi · 2,694 people · home $206,400
- Walterboro, SC18.3 mi · 5,544 people · home $183,500
Yemassee questions
Is Yemassee, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yemassee scores better for retirees than 15% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 79%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Yemassee?
The median owner-occupied home in Yemassee is valued at $161,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,896, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $748 a month.
What is the weather like in Yemassee?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 36.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Yemassee get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yemassee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)