Johnston is a small town of 2,375 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $31,910
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Johnston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Johnston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Johnston 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: 91.0
Johnston's overall cost of living index is 91.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Johnston costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Johnston, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$105,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$774
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$31,910
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Johnston's violent crime rate is 240.3 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
240.3 /100k
Property Crime
2162.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Johnston is served primarily by Edgefield 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Johnston, SC
National Avg
School District
Edgefield 01
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Johnston sees average highs of 55.4°F in January
and 93.0°F in July,
with 48.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Johnston's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Johnston roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $105,000 and median rent is $774/month.
Johnston's violent crime rate is 240.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2162.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Johnston are operated by Edgefield 01.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Johnston, SC has a population of 2,375, a median household income of $31,910, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
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.
Johnston averages 55.4°F in January and 93.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.5 inches
with about 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Johnston, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29832.
The population of Johnston, South Carolina is 2,375 with a median age of 48.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Johnston: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $105,000, median household income $31,910, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Johnston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
