What is the median household income in Hilltop?

The median household income in Hilltop, SC is $45,300 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Hilltop, SC?

Hilltop has an average high temperature of 54.1°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Hilltop, SC affordable or expensive?

Hilltop's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hilltop is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,400 and the median rent is $1,159 per month.

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

Hilltop has a violent crime rate of 589.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2138.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What are the schools like in Hilltop, SC?

School district data for Hilltop is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Is Hilltop, SC a Good Place to Live?

Hilltop is a small town of 3,253 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $45,300 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Hilltop stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hilltop is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hilltop 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: 93.5

Hilltop's overall cost of living index is 93.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hilltop costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hilltop, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,159	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,300	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Hilltop's violent crime rate is 589.5 per 100,000 residents — 55% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

589.5 /100k

Property Crime

2138.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Hilltop, SC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hilltop sees average highs of 54.1°F in January and 90.1°F in July, with 53.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hilltop, SC
Average High — January	54.1°F
Average High — July	90.1°F
Annual Precipitation	53.1"
Annual Snowfall	0.8"

Demographics

Metric	Hilltop, SC	National Avg
Population	3,253	—
Median Age	32.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	54.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	37.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	10.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Saxon, SC 1 mi Southern Shops, SC 2 mi Whitney, SC 2 mi Arcadia, SC 2 mi Valley Falls, SC 2 mi

Hilltop vs Other Cities

Hilltop, SC vs Saxon, SC Hilltop, SC vs Southern Shops, SC Hilltop, SC vs Whitney, SC Hilltop, SC vs Arcadia, SC Hilltop, SC vs Valley Falls, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hilltop, SC affordable or expensive?

Hilltop's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hilltop roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,400 and median rent is $1,159/month.

What is the crime rate in Hilltop, SC?

Hilltop's violent crime rate is 589.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2138.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hilltop?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Hilltop, SC a good place to live?

Hilltop, SC has a population of 3,253, a median household income of $45,300, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 Hilltop?

Hilltop averages 54.1°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.1 inches with about 0.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Hilltop?

The population of Hilltop, South Carolina is 3,253 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hilltop?

Key numbers for living in Hilltop: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $111,400, median household income $45,300, crime index 134 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hilltop side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.