Very AffordableHigh CrimeGovernor's School for Science and Mathematics
Median Income
$46,230
household / year
Median Home Value
$175,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$796
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100
Is Hartsville, SC a Good Place to Live?
Hartsville is a small town of 7,450 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $46,230
and a 9.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hartsville 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 Hartsville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hartsville 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
Hartsville's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hartsville costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hartsville, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$175,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$796
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,230
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Hartsville's violent crime rate is 1745.8 per 100,000 residents
— 359% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1745.8 /100k
Property Crime
4845.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hartsville is served primarily by Governor's School for Science and Mathematics.
Metric
Hartsville, SC
National Avg
School District
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hartsville sees average highs of 54.9°F in January
and 91.9°F in July,
with 48.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Hartsville's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hartsville roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $175,900 and median rent is $796/month.
Hartsville's violent crime rate is 1745.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4845.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hartsville are operated by Governor's School for Science and Mathematics.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hartsville, SC has a population of 7,450, a median household income of $46,230, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
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.
Hartsville averages 54.9°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.5 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hartsville, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29550.
The population of Hartsville, South Carolina is 7,450 with a median age of 29.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hartsville: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $175,900, median household income $46,230, crime index 368 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hartsville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.