What are the schools like in Darlington, SC?

Darlington is served primarily by Darlington 01. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Darlington?

The median household income in Darlington, SC is $33,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.9%.

What is the weather like in Darlington, SC?

Darlington has an average high temperature of 56.5°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Darlington, SC affordable or expensive?

Darlington's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Darlington is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $158,100 and the median rent is $700 per month.

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

Darlington has a violent crime rate of 1130.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5887.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Darlington, SC a Good Place to Live?

Darlington is a small town of 6,172 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $33,750 and a 8.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Darlington stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Darlington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Darlington 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: 88.0

Darlington's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Darlington costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Darlington, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$158,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$700	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$33,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Darlington's violent crime rate is 1130.9 per 100,000 residents — 198% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1130.9 /100k

Property Crime

5887.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Darlington is served primarily by Darlington 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Darlington, SC	National Avg
School District	Darlington 01	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Darlington sees average highs of 56.5°F in January and 92.0°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Darlington, SC
Average High — January	56.5°F
Average High — July	92.0°F
Annual Precipitation	47.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Darlington, SC	National Avg
Population	6,172	—
Median Age	49.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	34.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	62.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.2%	22.2%
65 and over	30.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dovesville, SC 7 mi Quinby, SC 9 mi Florence, SC 10 mi Timmonsville, SC 12 mi Hartsville, SC 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Darlington

Darlington, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29532

Darlington vs Other Cities

Darlington, SC vs Dovesville, SC Darlington, SC vs Quinby, SC Darlington, SC vs Florence, SC Darlington, SC vs Timmonsville, SC Darlington, SC vs Hartsville, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Darlington, SC affordable or expensive?

Darlington's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Darlington roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $158,100 and median rent is $700/month.

What is the crime rate in Darlington, SC?

Darlington's violent crime rate is 1130.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5887.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Darlington?

Public schools in Darlington are operated by Darlington 01. The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Darlington, SC a good place to live?

Darlington, SC has a population of 6,172, a median household income of $33,750, and an unemployment rate of 8.9%. 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 Darlington?

Darlington averages 56.5°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Darlington?

Darlington, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29532.

What is the population of Darlington?

The population of Darlington, South Carolina is 6,172 with a median age of 49.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Darlington?

Key numbers for living in Darlington: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $158,100, median household income $33,750, crime index 291 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Darlington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.