Food Lion, 2012
Tega Cay’s story
Tega Cay in pictures
Census counts: 3,016 in 1990, 12,832 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2012 and 3 maps from 1947 on.
Explore the history →Population
14,457
2025 Census estimate · +13.1% since 2020
Typical home
$594K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$142K
median
Median age
41.0
years
Jobs based here
1,949
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#1 of 167 in SC
Is Tega Cay a good place to live?
Few places in the country grade higher. Tega Cay earns an A+, 1st among South Carolina's 167 graded towns. Its schools score near the top of South Carolina on tests and graduation, the median household earns $142K, and CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 96% of the country. Its lowest mark, a C, is in cost of living. 67% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Tega Cay, where South Carolina’s towns sit at 23% and U.S. towns at 29%. No town in South Carolina scores higher than Tega Cay on safety. The biggest park or preserve is Fort Mill River Access, at 59 acres.
What makes Tega Cay stand out
Where Tega Cay beats most towns.
York 04 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Hill Elementary | K–5 | 815 |
| Tega Cay Elementary | PK–5 | 743 |
| Gold Hill Middle | 6–8 | 877 |
SchoolsA+
Beats 99% of SC districts
#1 of the 169 South Carolina towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
32 measures vs. South Carolina
23 better9 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | Tega Cay | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.1% | 13.9% |
HealthA+
Beats SC on 23 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A growing town
Tega Cay has grown 90% since 2010
7,620 counted in 2010 and 12,832 in 2020; an estimated 14,457 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 13.1% since 2020, after 68.4% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Tega Cay grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Carolina), ordered by how far Tega Cay is from typical.
SchoolsA+Open →Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthPiedmont Medical Center 6.2 miles awayA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SafetyA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.6 of 20; 3.9% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 18% conserved landAOpen →HistoryD−Open →Civic life2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 91° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market51 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.0–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 26 attractions →Carowinds and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Tega Cay. Close and well known come first.
6 mi Theme parkCarowinds
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaBank of America Stadium13 mi MuseumSullenberger Aviation Museum70K visitors a year
31 mi LakeLake Norman
17 mi Stadium & arenaBojangles Coliseum
12 mi MuseumBilly Graham LibrarySources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Carowinds: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bank of America Stadium: HangingCurve, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Norman: Prince Grobhelm, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bojangles Coliseum: James Willamor, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Billy Graham Library: Billy Hathorn, CC BY 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Tega Cay: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Tega Cay, and how to reach them.
PowerYork Electric Coop13.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTega Cay City of (Sc4610008) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayHire your ownTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn South Carolina you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereYork Board of Voter RegistrationYork County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2024
ZIP code2970829708 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tega Cay.
Tega Cay is among the three healthiest towns in South Carolina, has schools in the top 5% of South Carolina and sends many workers across the state line to Gastonia.
HousingCost of living grade C
The typical home in Tega Cay is valued at about $594K
At 7.1 years of the Charlotte metro’s $83K median household income, the typical home (about $594K) costs more against local pay than in 97% of South Carolina towns; that ratio is one input to its C for cost of living. The median property tax bill is $3,221, against $1,251 across South Carolina, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Tega Cay home is worth about $594,000, about the same as a year ago, 95% above the South Carolina typical home. 84% of households own their home in Tega Cay.
$594KZillow home value
| Tega Cay | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 65% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,408 a month | $1,058 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Tega Cay$594K
South Carolina$304K
Market temperature
51
days on market
99%
sale-to-list price
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
22
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA+
Tega Cay’s public schools rank among the best in South Carolina
Its A+ ranks #1 of the 169 South Carolina towns we grade for schools.
Its public schools are run by the York 04 school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
99%of SC districts it outscoresA+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Hill MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 877 | A |
| Gold Hill ElementaryTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 815 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SC on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
Compared with most of South Carolina and the rest of the country, fewer of Tega Cay’s adults report frequent physical distress
It ranks #3 of the 169 South Carolina towns we grade on the CDC estimates behind the Health Grade. Its widest gap with South Carolina is tooth loss: 4.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 13.9% statewide.
9.3% of Tega Cay adults report frequent physical distress. Only 1 of the 169 South Carolina towns we compare have a lower share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Tega Cay. 26% of Tega Cay adults feel lonely.
96%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Tega Cay | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.3% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 33% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 18% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 7.5% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. South Carolina
23 better9 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Tega Cay | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.1% | 13.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.9% | 17.4% |
Piedmont Medical Center
6.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
99th
percentile among SC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyA−
Tega Cay reports less crime per resident than 82% of U.S. towns
At 7.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 100% of South Carolina’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 11 reported in 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate in Tega Cay is 0.7 per 1,000 residents. Only 3 of the 90 South Carolina towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Tega Cay.
82%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Tega Cay | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.1 per 1,000 residents | 21.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Tega Cay0.7
South Carolina3.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Tega Cay6.1
South Carolina17.2
U.S.15.5
82nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
99th
percentile among SC towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
89
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Tega Cay
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 81% of U.S. communities.
19risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesIce storms
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
The median household income in Tega Cay is higher than in the typical South Carolina or U.S. town
28% of working residents cross a state line to work, Gastonia among the top destinations. Jobs based here grew from 775 in 2013 to 1,949.
Only 1 of the 169 South Carolina towns we compare have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Tega Cay. Tega Cay’s average trip to work is 31 minutes. Since 2013, Tega Cay has added 1,174 jobs, to 1,949 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Tega Cay | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $142,000 | $57,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 1.5% | 17% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Tega Cay4%
Charlotte33%
Fort Mill11%
Rock Hill8%
Columbia2%
15 mi
median commute distance
1,949
jobs based in Tega Cay
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 50% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsA
Tega Cay has set aside 17.5% of its land for conservation
Its A for the outdoors ranks #3 of 169 in South Carolina.
1.3 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves.
#61for trails in SC
17.5%
conserved · 510 of 2,917 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fort Mill River Access | — | 59 |
| 2. Catawba Park | — | 52 |
| 3. Nivens Creek Landing | — | 23 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Tega Cay
January nights average 31.1°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 91% of South Carolina places with climate records; July afternoons average 90.5°.
Tega Cay has mild winters and warm summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
91°summer high
| Tega Cay | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 31°F | 34°F | 22°F |
| July high | 91°F | 91°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–55°
Spring48–73°
Summer68–89°
Fall50–73°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tega Cay
19pages on Tega Cay
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 99% of SC districts · 3 schoolsSafetyA−0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than SC on 23 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$594K typical home · down 0.4% in a yearWork & commuteA+$142K median household income · 1,949 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Tega Cay
Winthrop UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Rock Hill6.9 mi$14,678 in-state tuitionYork Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rock Hill7.3 mi$8,036 in-state tuitionChamberlain University-North CarolinaUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Charlotte, NC8.1 mi$20,785 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Tega Cay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
Get outside
1 miles of trails in Tega Cay
17.5% of the town is conserved land, across 11 parks and preserves.
3
Nivens Creek Landing23 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Tega Cay
City in South Carolina, United States
Tega Cay is a planned city in York County, South Carolina, United States, located west of Fort Mill and north of Rock Hill. It is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina. The population was recorded at 12,832 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. Tega Cay is located on a peninsula along Lake Wylie, twenty miles south of Charlotte. The name Tega Cay allegedly comes from an unknown Polynesian language and means "Beautiful Peninsula", however, this is unconfirmed.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 636 ft
- Area code
- 803
Tega Cay’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Tega Cay.
Baxter VillageRiverviewTega Cay
How the neighbors grade
| Town | SC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tega Cay | #1 | A+ | C | A− | A+ | A+ |
| Baxter Village | #2 | A+ | C+ | — | A+ | A |
| Riverview | — | — | A− | — | A+ | A |
Riverview has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Baxter Village and Riverview report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Tega Cay with a neighbor →
Questions about Tega Cay
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tega Cay, SC a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Tega Cay grades A+ overall, among the top 2% of U.S. towns and #1 of 167 in South Carolina. It grades A+ for health, A− for safety and A+ for schools.
Is Tega Cay, SC expensive?
That is 7.1 years of the area's median household income ($83,304 across the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.