Jefferson is a small town of 830 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $35,208
and a 9.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jefferson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jefferson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jefferson 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: 84.6
Jefferson's overall cost of living index is 84.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jefferson costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jefferson, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$125,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$352
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,208
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Jefferson's violent crime rate is 692.2 per 100,000 residents
— 82% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
692.2 /100k
Property Crime
2659.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jefferson is served primarily by Chesterfield 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Jefferson, SC
National Avg
School District
Chesterfield 01
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jefferson sees average highs of 54.7°F in January
and 91.4°F in July,
with 48.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.1 inches of snow per year.
Jefferson's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jefferson roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $125,800 and median rent is $352/month.
Jefferson's violent crime rate is 692.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2659.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jefferson are operated by Chesterfield 01.
The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 8.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jefferson, SC has a population of 830, a median household income of $35,208, and an unemployment rate of 9.7%.
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.
Jefferson averages 54.7°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.2 inches
with about 2.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jefferson, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29718.
The population of Jefferson, South Carolina is 830 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jefferson: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $125,800, median household income $35,208, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jefferson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
