Ridgeway is a small town of 251 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,500
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ridgeway stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ridgeway is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ridgeway 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: 92.9
Ridgeway's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ridgeway costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ridgeway, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$165,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Ridgeway's violent crime rate is 863.7 per 100,000 residents
— 127% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
863.7 /100k
Property Crime
1552.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ridgeway is served primarily by Fairfield 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ridgeway, SC
National Avg
School District
Fairfield 01
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ridgeway sees average highs of 53.1°F in January
and 91.1°F in July,
with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation
.
Ridgeway's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ridgeway roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $165,600 and median rent is $675/month.
Ridgeway's violent crime rate is 863.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1552.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ridgeway are operated by Fairfield 01.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ridgeway, SC has a population of 251, a median household income of $40,500, 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.
Ridgeway averages 53.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Ridgeway, South Carolina is 251 with a median age of 56.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ridgeway: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $165,600, median household income $40,500, crime index 166 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ridgeway side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
