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Abbeville County

SC · Pop. 24,352 · Suburban County

97/100Homestead Score

Abbeville County is a suburban county in South Carolina, spanning 491 square miles with 24,352 residents at a density of 49.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, wheat. A median home price of $147,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.49% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 224-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.9°F and average winter lows of 32.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Abbeville Area Medical Center is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.49%
Growing Season: 224 days
Broadband: 99.4%
Density: 49.6/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 224-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.49% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $147,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Abbeville Area Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 6.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

Abbeville County, SC is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score
97/100
Median home price
$147k
Property tax
0.49%
Growing season
224 days (zone 8a)
Annual rainfall
45.4"
Broadband
99.4%
Nearest hospital
Abbeville Area Medical Center, 6.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.49%
Median Household Income$52,112
Poverty Rate14.1%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$147K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8a
Growing Season224 days
Annual Rainfall45.4 inches
Avg Summer High89.9°F
Avg Winter Low32.3°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Wheat

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought4/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado7/10
Flood4/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAbbeville Area Medical Center (6.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.4%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.8%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Abbeville County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Abbeville County?
Abbeville County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 224-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.9°F, and average winter lows of 32.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, wheat.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $147,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.49%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Abbeville Area Medical Center is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Abbeville County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.