Clearwater is a small town of 3,403 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $52,991
and a 13.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clearwater stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clearwater is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clearwater 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: 91.0
Clearwater's overall cost of living index is 91.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clearwater costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clearwater, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$160,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$867
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,991
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clearwater's violent crime rate is 119.4 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
119.4 /100k
Property Crime
872.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clearwater is served primarily by Aiken 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clearwater, SC
National Avg
School District
Aiken 01
—
Elementary Schools
21
—
Middle Schools
11
—
High Schools
9
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clearwater sees average highs of 58.1°F in January
and 93.5°F in July,
with 44.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.8 inches of snow per year.
Clearwater's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clearwater roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $160,300 and median rent is $867/month.
Clearwater's violent crime rate is 119.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 872.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clearwater are operated by Aiken 01.
The district has 21 elementary, 11 middle, and 9 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 12.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clearwater, SC has a population of 3,403, a median household income of $52,991, and an unemployment rate of 13.2%.
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.
Clearwater averages 58.1°F in January and 93.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.8 inches
with about 0.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Clearwater, South Carolina is 3,403 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clearwater: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $160,300, median household income $52,991, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clearwater side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.