Rocky Mount Canal, Lock Keeper's House · Library of Congress
Great Falls’s story
Great Falls in pictures
1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 3 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →Great FallsSC
A town of 1,690. Healthier than 96% of U.S. towns.
Population
1,690
−1.4% since 2010
Typical home
$144K
−2.2% in a year
Household income
$30K
median
Median age
41.3
years
Jobs based here
595
Balanced
What makes Great Falls stand out
The 3 things Great Falls does most differently from other towns.
Great Falls’s report card
Now in Great Falls
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Great Falls? Is a D− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Great Falls’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →84°
Sunny
H 86° · L 59°
Local news
All →- Preview - Wagener-Salley vs Great Falls Football - Aug 21, 2026Sports Illustrated · Sep 1
- Game Teaser: Varsity Football Wagener-Salley High School vs. Great Falls High School HighlightsNFHS Network · Aug 20
- SLED arrests former Great Falls town council memberSpectrum News · Jul 7
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Great Falls. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Great Falls beats the South Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20.
D−Health Grade
32 measures vs. South Carolina
0 better12 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | Great Falls | SC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 30.7% | 13.9% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 15.7% | 8.9% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 30.2% | 17.4% |
Musc Health Lancaster Medical Center
12.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
12th
percentile among SC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Great Falls home is worth about $144K
The typical Great Falls home is worth about $144,000, down 2.2% in a year, 53% below the South Carolina typical home.
$144KZillow home value
Typical home value
Great Falls$144K
South Carolina$306K
−2.2%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Schools
Great Falls’s public schools outperform 31% of South Carolina districts
The public schools Great Falls’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 69% of South Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
CSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls Elementary | PK–5 | 335 | C+ |
| Great Falls High | 6–12 | 375 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SC on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Great Falls has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–57°
Spring49–74°
Summer68–90°
Fall51–74°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Great Falls
Most working residents leave Great Falls for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Rock Hill (11%), Charlotte (9%) and Lancaster (6%). Half commute less than 29 miles.
4%work in town
Where working residents work
In Great Falls4%
Rock Hill11%
Charlotte9%
Lancaster6%
Chester4%
29 mi
median commute distance
595
jobs based in Great Falls
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 37% of U.S. communities.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes
1
paid flood claims since 1989
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Safety
Crime reported in Great Falls
Great Falls's reported crime rate is close to South Carolina's. 19 violent crimes were reported in 2023.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Great Falls10
South Carolina4.8
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Great Falls18.4
South Carolina22.5
U.S.19.5
19
violent crimes reported in 2023
35
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Landmarks
3 places in Great Falls on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Great Falls
Town in South Carolina, United States
Great Falls is a town in southeastern Chester County, South Carolina, United States and is located fourteen miles southwest of Lancaster, South Carolina. The population was 1,951 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,951
- Area
- 4.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 489 ft
- ZIP code
- 29055
- Area code
- 803
More about Great Falls
Still missing for Great Falls:a photo of Great Fallsupcoming events