Carlisle is a small town of 526 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $49,732
and a 9.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carlisle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carlisle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carlisle 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: 87.7
Carlisle's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carlisle costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carlisle, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$49,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$920
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,732
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Carlisle's violent crime rate is 490.6 per 100,000 residents
— 29% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
490.6 /100k
Property Crime
3463.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Carlisle, SC
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carlisle sees average highs of 54.7°F in January
and 92.3°F in July,
with 44.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.9 inches of snow per year.
Carlisle's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carlisle roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $49,400 and median rent is $920/month.
Carlisle's violent crime rate is 490.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3463.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Carlisle, SC has a population of 526, a median household income of $49,732, and an unemployment rate of 9.0%.
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.
Carlisle averages 54.7°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.6 inches
with about 2.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carlisle, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29031.
The population of Carlisle, South Carolina is 526 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carlisle: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $49,400, median household income $49,732, crime index 143 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlisle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
