Walterboro offers small-town charm and nature 50 miles from Charleston
Nicknamed “the front porch of the Lowcountry,” the city of Walterboro has always been a welcoming place for visitors, whether they were traveling from New York to Florida or escaping Charleston’s swampy summers. Today, it draws first-time home buyers and retirees for its affordability compared to Charleston, about 50 miles away, and it draws anyone looking for a small-town feel surrounded by nature.
Ranch-style homes and bungalows on tree-lined lots
Walterboro’s houses are a mix of manufactured, bungalows New Traditional and ranch-style. They sit on lawns landscaped with grass and tall oak trees, with more trees lining backyards. Driveways are common, and some properties also have garages or carports. Prices typically range from $150,000 to $600,000. Higher priced homes often feature over 2,000 square feet and sit on a half-acre or more. Land is also available, ranging from around $15,000 for a quarter acre to $160,000 for over 30.
Colleton School District offers magnet and transfer options
The Colleton School District serves the area, has a D-plus rating on Niche and offers school choice. Families can apply for magnet programs or transfer under open enrollment, but approval hinges on capacity and district guidelines. Competitive magnets may require auditions or lotteries for entry. Kids can attend C-minus-rated Forest Hills Elementary, C-minus-rated Colleton County Middle and C-rated Colleton County High. Students at Colleton County High can participate in the school’s dual enrollment program with Technical College of the Lowcountry, which offers career pathways and university transfer degrees.
Parks offer playgrounds, wildlife sanctuary offers trails
The Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the main outdoor recreation spots in the city, offering a network of boardwalks and trails within the ACE Basin’s swamps. The sanctuary is a popular destination for hiking, biking, canoeing and wildlife watching. Smaller green spaces include Gladys Whiddon Park, which has a playground, a walking path around a large pond and picnic tables, and Pickney Park, another spot with a big playground. Golfers tee off at Dogwood Hills Golf Course, a public, nine-hole layout. Those looking for sun and sand are around 50 miles from the beaches at Edisto Island and Botany Bay, which Chandler Townsend, a Realtor with C-Town Sells Team at LPT Realty who sells throughout the Lowcountry, says tend to be more popular than those closer to Charleston. “Botany Bay is completely preserved, there are no businesses at all on the beach, which is rare,” he says. “It’s a really great place to go in nature.”
Bells Highway has fast food, services and specialty stores
Walterboro’s small downtown district runs along East Washington Street and features boutiques, restaurants and small businesses. Residents pick up groceries and essentials at Food Lion, Walterboro IGA and Walmart. Bells Highway, one of the bigger thoroughfares, is dotted with specialty stores, local businesses, services and popular fast-food restaurants. Among the many local restaurants, Duke’s Barbecue, Dairy-Land and Olde House Café rank among the top favorites. Duke’s serves an all-you-can-eat buffet of pork and chicken barbecue, Southern sides and wide range of desserts. Dairy-Land is a walk-up and drive-thru spot offering burgers, fries and ice cream. Olde House Café has a mix of burgers, Southern classics and breakfast dishes. Several houses of worship are scattered throughout the city and the Colleton Medical Center hospital is located off Robertson Boulevard.
Local events highlight Walterboro’s farming and small-town pride
The Colleton Farmers Market takes place on Tuesday evenings between May and December and offers fresh produce, farm fresh eggs, honey, baked goods and handmade crafts. First Thursday is a quarterly event when local shops in downtown Walterboro stay open late and Main Street is open to pedestrian traffic, kids’ activities and vendors. The annual Colleton County Rice Festival takes place in Walterboro and celebrates the community’s connection to its staple crop, rice. The week-long, free festival features dozens of events, including a kids’ carnival, rice cookoff, beauty pageant, car show, and live music. “A lot of people come in from out for town for it. It’s a fun time,” Townsend says.
SC-64 and I-95 connect residents to nearby cities
Due to the lack of public transportation in the city, residents get around by car. South Jefferies Boulevard and South Carolina Highway 64 are the main thoroughfares, and Interstate 95 is nearby. Charleston International is the closest airport with commercial flights and is within 50 miles via SC-64.
Inland location means lower hurricane risk but not immunity
While Walterboro is located inland and not usually vulnerable to hurricanes, the city sustained some damage during Hurricane Helene in 2024.
