What are the schools like in Central, SC?

Central is served primarily by Pickens 01. The district operates 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Central?

The median household income in Central, SC is $45,909 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Central, SC?

Central has an average high temperature of 53.4°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Central, SC affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Central is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $207,000 and the median rent is $919 per month.

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

Central has a violent crime rate of 56.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1254.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central, SC a Good Place to Live?

Central is a small town of 5,272 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $45,909 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Central is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Central 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

Central's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Central costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Central, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$207,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$919	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	20.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,909	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Central's violent crime rate is 56.2 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

56.2 /100k

Property Crime

1254.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Central is served primarily by Pickens 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Central, SC	National Avg
School District	Pickens 01	—
Elementary Schools	14	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central sees average highs of 53.4°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 52.4 inches of annual precipitation and 2.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Central, SC
Average High — January	53.4°F
Average High — July	91.0°F
Annual Precipitation	52.4"
Annual Snowfall	2.2"

Demographics

Metric	Central, SC	National Avg
Population	5,272	—
Median Age	21.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	7.5%	6.3%
Under 18	17.5%	22.2%
65 and over	6.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cateechee, SC 3 mi Norris, SC 3 mi Clemson, SC 3 mi Clemson University, SC 5 mi Pendleton, SC 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Central

Central, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29630

Central vs Other Cities

Central, SC vs Cateechee, SC Central, SC vs Norris, SC Central, SC vs Clemson, SC Central, SC vs Clemson University, SC Central, SC vs Pendleton, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central, SC affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Central roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $207,000 and median rent is $919/month.

What is the crime rate in Central, SC?

Central's violent crime rate is 56.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1254.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central?

Public schools in Central are operated by Pickens 01. The district has 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 51.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Central, SC a good place to live?

Central, SC has a population of 5,272, a median household income of $45,909, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 Central?

Central averages 53.4°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.4 inches with about 2.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Central?

Central, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29630.

What is the population of Central?

The population of Central, South Carolina is 5,272 with a median age of 21.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central?

Key numbers for living in Central: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $207,000, median household income $45,909, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.