Pickens is a small town of 3,374 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $43,452
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pickens stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Pickens is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pickens 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: 92.8
Pickens's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pickens costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pickens, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$191,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$890
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,452
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Pickens's violent crime rate is 295.2 per 100,000 residents
— 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
295.2 /100k
Property Crime
3069.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pickens is served primarily by Pickens 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Pickens, SC
National Avg
School District
Pickens 01
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pickens sees average highs of 52.5°F in January
and 89.8°F in July,
with 56.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Pickens's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pickens roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $191,100 and median rent is $890/month.
Pickens's violent crime rate is 295.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3069.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pickens are operated by Pickens 01.
The district has 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pickens, SC has a population of 3,374, a median household income of $43,452, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Pickens averages 52.5°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.7 inches
with about 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pickens, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29671.
The population of Pickens, South Carolina is 3,374 with a median age of 35.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pickens: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $191,100, median household income $43,452, crime index 105 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pickens side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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