What are the schools like in Aiken, SC?

Aiken is served primarily by Aiken 01. The district operates 21 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Aiken?

The median household income in Aiken, SC is $65,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Aiken, SC?

Aiken has an average high temperature of 57.6°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Aiken, SC affordable or expensive?

Aiken's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Aiken is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $235,500 and the median rent is $1,093 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Aiken, SC?

Aiken has a violent crime rate of 568.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3958.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Aiken, SC a Good Place to Live?

Aiken is a small city of 32,014 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $65,712 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Aiken stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Aiken is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Aiken 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: 91.0

Aiken's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Aiken costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Aiken, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$235,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,093	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Aiken's violent crime rate is 568.9 per 100,000 residents — 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

568.9 /100k

Property Crime

3958.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Aiken is served primarily by Aiken 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Aiken, SC	National Avg
School District	Aiken 01	—
Elementary Schools	21	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Aiken sees average highs of 57.6°F in January and 93.4°F in July, with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Aiken, SC
Average High — January	57.6°F
Average High — July	93.4°F
Annual Precipitation	47.5"
Annual Snowfall	0.7"

Demographics

Metric	Aiken, SC	National Avg
Population	32,014	—
Median Age	46.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	57.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	36.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	17.6%	22.2%
65 and over	27.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Warrenville, SC 5 mi Gloverville, SC 5 mi Graniteville, SC 5 mi Langley, SC 6 mi Burnettown, SC 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Aiken

Aiken, SC is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

29803 29801

Aiken vs Other Cities

Aiken, SC vs Warrenville, SC Aiken, SC vs Gloverville, SC Aiken, SC vs Graniteville, SC Aiken, SC vs Langley, SC Aiken, SC vs Burnettown, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aiken, SC affordable or expensive?

Aiken's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Aiken roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $235,500 and median rent is $1,093/month.

What is the crime rate in Aiken, SC?

Aiken's violent crime rate is 568.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3958.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Aiken?

Public schools in Aiken are operated by Aiken 01. The district has 21 elementary, 11 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 43.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Aiken, SC a good place to live?

Aiken, SC has a population of 32,014, a median household income of $65,712, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 Aiken?

Aiken averages 57.6°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.5 inches with about 0.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Aiken?

Aiken, SC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 29803, 29801.

What is the population of Aiken?

The population of Aiken, South Carolina is 32,014 with a median age of 46.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Aiken?

Key numbers for living in Aiken: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $235,500, median household income $65,712, crime index 165 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Aiken side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.