Aerial view of Western Florence, South Carolina · Florence Conventions and Visitors Bureau / CC BY-SA 4.0Florence - Evans Street · Paul E. Trouche, Charleston, South Carolina (publisher) / Public domain
Florence is a small city of 39,931 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $56,031
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Florence 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. Whether Florence is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Florence 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
Florence's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Florence costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Florence, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$175,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$868
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,031
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Florence's violent crime rate is 806.7 per 100,000 residents
— 112% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
806.7 /100k
Property Crime
3918.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Florence is served primarily by Florence 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Florence, SC
National Avg
School District
Florence 01
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Florence sees average highs of 57.1°F in January
and 92.0°F in July,
with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Florence's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Florence roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $175,700 and median rent is $868/month.
Florence's violent crime rate is 806.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3918.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Florence are operated by Florence 01.
The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 31.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Florence, SC has a population of 39,931, a median household income of $56,031, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
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.
Florence averages 57.1°F in January and 92.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches
with about 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Florence, SC is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 29501, 29505, 29506.
The population of Florence, South Carolina is 39,931 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Florence: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $175,700, median household income $56,031, crime index 202 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Florence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
