Chesnee is a small town of 597 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $42,727
and a 5.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Chesnee stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Chesnee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chesnee 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: 90.2
Chesnee's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Chesnee costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Chesnee, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$747
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,727
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Chesnee's violent crime rate is 322.9 per 100,000 residents
— 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
322.9 /100k
Property Crime
7857.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chesnee is served primarily by Spartanburg 02.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Chesnee, SC
National Avg
School District
Spartanburg 02
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Chesnee sees average highs of 51.4°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 54.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Chesnee's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Chesnee roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,100 and median rent is $747/month.
Chesnee's violent crime rate is 322.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 7857.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Chesnee are operated by Spartanburg 02.
The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Chesnee, SC has a population of 597, a median household income of $42,727, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.
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.
Chesnee averages 51.4°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.1 inches
with about 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Chesnee, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29323.
The population of Chesnee, South Carolina is 597 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Chesnee: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $115,100, median household income $42,727, crime index 201 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chesnee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
