What are the schools like in Saluda, NC?

Saluda is served primarily by Polk County Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Saluda?

The median household income in Saluda, NC is $51,429 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.1%.

What is the weather like in Saluda, NC?

Saluda has an average high temperature of 49.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 69.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.9 inches.

Saluda, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Saluda, NC affordable or expensive?

Saluda's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Saluda is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $295,200 and the median rent is $1,250 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Saluda, NC?

Saluda has a violent crime rate of 309.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1393.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Saluda, NC a Good Place to Live?

Saluda is a small town of 617 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $51,429 and a 8.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Saluda stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Saluda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Saluda city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.6

Saluda's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Saluda costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Saluda, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$295,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,250	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,429	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Saluda's violent crime rate is 309.6 per 100,000 residents — 19% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

309.6 /100k

Property Crime

1393.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Saluda is served primarily by Polk County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Saluda, NC	National Avg
School District	Polk County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Saluda sees average highs of 49.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 69.0 inches of annual precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Saluda, NC
Average High — January	49.6°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	69.0"
Annual Snowfall	4.9"

Demographics

Metric	Saluda, NC	National Avg
Population	617	—
Median Age	61.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	16.5%	22.2%
65 and over	43.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Flat Rock, NC 5 mi Dana, NC 6 mi Flat Rock, NC 6 mi Tryon, NC 6 mi Barker Heights, NC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Saluda

Saluda, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28773

Saluda vs Other Cities

Saluda, NC vs East Flat Rock, NC Saluda, NC vs Dana, NC Saluda, NC vs Flat Rock, NC Saluda, NC vs Tryon, NC Saluda, NC vs Barker Heights, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saluda, NC affordable or expensive?

Saluda's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Saluda roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $295,200 and median rent is $1,250/month.

What is the crime rate in Saluda, NC?

Saluda's violent crime rate is 309.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1393.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Saluda?

Public schools in Saluda are operated by Polk County Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 50.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Saluda, NC a good place to live?

Saluda, NC has a population of 617, a median household income of $51,429, and an unemployment rate of 8.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Saluda?

Saluda averages 49.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 69.0 inches with about 4.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Saluda?

Saluda, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28773.

What is the population of Saluda?

The population of Saluda, North Carolina is 617 with a median age of 61.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Saluda?

Key numbers for living in Saluda: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $295,200, median household income $51,429, crime index 75 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Saluda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.