AndersonSCBenson1876 · Howard Woody / Public domainPortmanShoalsPlantAnderson · Excel23 / Public domainCaldwell Johnson Morris Cottage · Bill Fitzpatrick / CC BY-SA 3.0
Anderson is a small city of 29,345 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,445
and a 6.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Anderson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Anderson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Anderson 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: 92.8
Anderson's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Anderson costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Anderson, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$177,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$884
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,445
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Anderson's violent crime rate is 560.5 per 100,000 residents
— 48% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
560.5 /100k
Property Crime
5704.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Anderson is served primarily by Anderson 05.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Anderson, SC
National Avg
School District
Anderson 05
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Anderson sees average highs of 53.2°F in January
and 90.7°F in July,
with 50.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Anderson's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Anderson roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $177,300 and median rent is $884/month.
Anderson's violent crime rate is 560.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5704.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Anderson are operated by Anderson 05.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Anderson, SC has a population of 29,345, a median household income of $40,445, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%.
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.
Anderson averages 53.2°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.2 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Anderson, SC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 29621, 29624.
The population of Anderson, South Carolina is 29,345 with a median age of 32.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Anderson: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $177,300, median household income $40,445, crime index 197 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Anderson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
