Below Average CostNear National AverageGreenville 01
Median Income
$46,393
household / year
Median Home Value
$161,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$995
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Berea, SC a Good Place to Live?
Berea is a small city of 16,184 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $46,393
and a 6.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Berea stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Berea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Berea 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
Berea's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Berea costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Berea, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$995
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,393
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Berea's violent crime rate is 475.8 per 100,000 residents
— 25% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
475.8 /100k
Property Crime
2200.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Berea is served primarily by Greenville 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Berea, SC
National Avg
School District
Greenville 01
—
Elementary Schools
51
—
Middle Schools
19
—
High Schools
20
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
77.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Berea sees average highs of 51.5°F in January
and 86.7°F in July,
with 55.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.9 inches of snow per year.
Berea's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Berea roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,500 and median rent is $995/month.
Berea's violent crime rate is 475.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2200.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Berea are operated by Greenville 01.
The district has 51 elementary, 19 middle, and 20 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Berea, SC has a population of 16,184, a median household income of $46,393, 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.
Berea averages 51.5°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.0 inches
with about 1.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Berea, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29617.
The population of Berea, South Carolina is 16,184 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Berea: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $161,500, median household income $46,393, crime index 117 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Berea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.