Carolina Forest is a small city of 24,823 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $66,955
and a 9.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is
0% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carolina Forest stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carolina Forest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carolina Forest 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: 99.7
Carolina Forest's overall cost of living index is 99.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carolina Forest costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carolina Forest, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$281,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,411
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,955
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Carolina Forest's violent crime rate is 423.9 per 100,000 residents
— 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
423.9 /100k
Property Crime
2341.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carolina Forest is served primarily by Horry 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carolina Forest, SC
National Avg
School District
Horry 01
—
Elementary Schools
30
—
Middle Schools
13
—
High Schools
14
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
34.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carolina Forest sees average highs of 55.5°F in January
and 87.4°F in July,
with 58.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Carolina Forest's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carolina Forest roughly 0% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $281,500 and median rent is $1,411/month.
Carolina Forest's violent crime rate is 423.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2341.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carolina Forest are operated by Horry 01.
The district has 30 elementary, 13 middle, and 14 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 34.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carolina Forest, SC has a population of 24,823, a median household income of $66,955, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Carolina Forest averages 55.5°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.6 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carolina Forest, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29579.
The population of Carolina Forest, South Carolina is 24,823 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carolina Forest: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $281,500, median household income $66,955, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carolina Forest side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
