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Folly Beach, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Charleston County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
958 Population 77/sq mi density
$97,813 Median Income $78,174 per capita
$951,200 Home Value $1,021,686 Zillow
$1,930 Median Rent 33.7% income on rent
67°F Avg Temperature 308 sunny days/yr
440 Violent Crime/100K 3,187 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$97,813 median income, 1.8% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.2 / 5.0
$951,200 home value, $1,930/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
440 violent crimes/100K (16% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
60.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Folly Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 51°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 308 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

51°F Jan (10°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average67.2°F
24% above US avg
January Average51°F (10°C)
July Average82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days308 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2 ft (1 m)
Area12.5 sq mi (32.4 km²)
Population Density77/sq mi
Coordinates32.6693°N, 79.9606°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCharleston County County
Nearest AirportCharleston Afb/International (CHS)
17 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 44.3"
16% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 7.17"
Driest Month (Nov) 2.56"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0396 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)6.6 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.41 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.9 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability22.4 / 100
Community Resilience96.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

33 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M3.0 on Mar 19, 2014.

Aug 21, 1992 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M4.1 40 km
Apr 17, 1995 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.9 41 km
Nov 13, 1990 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M3.5 35 km
Nov 8, 2002 24 km SSE of Kiawah Island, South Carolina M3.5 28 km
Aug 29, 2009 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina M3.2 45 km
Jul 20, 2004 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.1 43 km
May 5, 2003 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.1 48 km
Mar 29, 1999 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina M3.0 47 km
Mar 19, 2014 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.0 42 km
Jul 26, 2002 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.0 49 km
Jul 7, 2002 1 km NW of Sangaree, South Carolina M2.9 45 km
Jan 29, 1994 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina M2.9 133 km
Mar 2, 2003 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.9 35 km
Feb 7, 1990 9 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.9 33 km
Jul 16, 2002 5 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 34 km
Jul 31, 2012 5 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.8 36 km
May 12, 2010 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 33 km
Jan 11, 2002 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.7 35 km
May 1, 2004 3 km ENE of Goose Creek, South Carolina M2.7 36 km
Jun 12, 2003 5 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M2.6 43 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

20 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 81 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 82 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 86 km
2018 Florence Category 2 207 km
2016 Matthew Category 3 20 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 134 km
2011 Irene Category 2 276 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 174 km
2004 Charley Category 1 48 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 46 km
2004 Alex Category 1 202 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 134 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 195 km
1999 Irene Category 1 104 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 202 km
1996 Fran Category 3 184 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 156 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 21 km
1985 Bob Category 1 73 km
1984 Diana Category 4 146 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

217 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 83 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 57 km 0
Sep 11, 1960 EF3 17 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 41 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 98 km 0
Sep 24, 2015 EF2 11 km 0
May 11, 2008 EF2 23 km 0
Oct 11, 2002 EF2 99 km 0
Sep 3, 1998 EF2 57 km 0
Sep 3, 1998 EF2 57 km 1
May 10, 1998 EF2 44 km 1
Mar 8, 1998 EF2 91 km 0
Sep 4, 1979 EF2 99 km 0
May 4, 1978 EF2 98 km 0
Aug 29, 1964 EF2 16 km 0
Sep 27, 2024 EF1 24 km 0
Sep 26, 2024 EF1 98 km 0
Aug 6, 2024 EF1 60 km 0
Aug 5, 2024 EF1 41 km 0
Aug 5, 2024 EF1 22 km 0
Aug 5, 2024 EF1 37 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1886 CHARLESTON, SC Earthquake 26 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (13,429 ac, 2004).

Year Name Acres Distance
2004 UNNAMED 13,429 54 km
2005 UNNAMED 11,023 54 km
2005 UNNAMED 8,560 60 km
2009 UNNAMED 8,439 60 km
1997 MURRELL 5,126 60 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,893 61 km
2014 UNNAMED 4,890 71 km
2008 UNNAMED 4,852 52 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,813 61 km
2016 UNNAMED 4,336 62 km
2010 UNNAMED 4,269 91 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,955 56 km
2010 UNNAMED 3,759 88 km
2010 UNNAMED 3,746 88 km
2003 LITTLE HELLHOLE 3,724 57 km
2009 UNNAMED 3,641 60 km
2015 UNNAMED 3,367 73 km
2017 UNNAMED 3,217 65 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,104 54 km
2017 UNNAMED 3,098 53 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 51°F (10°C) 3.8 in Coldest
February 51°F (11°C) 3.2 in
March 58°F (14°C) 4.1 in
April 64°F (18°C) 2.7 in
May 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
June 78°F (26°C) 5.5 in
July 82°F (28°C) 5.9 in Warmest
August 81°F (27°C) 7.2 in Wettest
September 77°F (25°C) 5.7 in
October 67°F (20°C) 3.2 in
November 59°F (15°C) 2.6 in Driest
December 52°F (11°C) 3.1 in

Folly Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 51°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.4 inches, with August being the wettest month (7.2") and November the driest (2.6").

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