Central Business District · JayeeDior12 / CC BY-SA 3.0Russell Street Orangeburg SC · Akhenaton06 at English Wikipedia / CC BY 3.0Downtown Loop · JayeeDior12 / CC BY-SA 3.0St paul 1264 · Pollinator at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Orangeburg is a small city of 13,220 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $29,340
and a 12.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Orangeburg 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: 90.7
Orangeburg's overall cost of living index is 90.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Orangeburg costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Orangeburg, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$134,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$722
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
45.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$29,340
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Orangeburg's violent crime rate is 1246.2 per 100,000 residents
— 228% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1246.2 /100k
Property Crime
6208.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Orangeburg is served primarily by Orangeburg.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Orangeburg, SC
National Avg
School District
Orangeburg
—
Elementary Schools
15
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
8
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Orangeburg sees average highs of 59.6°F in January
and 92.9°F in July,
with 50.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Orangeburg's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Orangeburg roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $134,800 and median rent is $722/month.
Orangeburg's violent crime rate is 1246.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6208.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Orangeburg are operated by Orangeburg.
The district has 15 elementary, 4 middle, and 8 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 28.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Orangeburg, SC has a population of 13,220, a median household income of $29,340, and an unemployment rate of 12.5%.
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.
Orangeburg averages 59.6°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.5 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Orangeburg, SC is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 29115, 29118, 29117.
The population of Orangeburg, South Carolina is 13,220 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Orangeburg: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $134,800, median household income $29,340, crime index 315 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Orangeburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
