What are the schools like in Ruby, SC?

Ruby is served primarily by Chesterfield 01. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Ruby?

The median household income in Ruby, SC is $37,083 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.7%.

What is the weather like in Ruby, SC?

Ruby has an average high temperature of 56.0°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.2 inches.

Ruby, SC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ruby, SC affordable or expensive?

Ruby's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ruby is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $129,300 and the median rent is $790 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ruby, SC?

Ruby has a violent crime rate of 692.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2659.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ruby, SC a Good Place to Live?

Ruby is a small town of 359 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $37,083 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Ruby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ruby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ruby 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: 91.2

Ruby's overall cost of living index is 91.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ruby costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ruby, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$129,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$790	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,083	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Ruby'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

Ruby is served primarily by Chesterfield 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ruby, 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	12.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ruby sees average highs of 56.0°F in January and 92.3°F in July, with 49.8 inches of annual precipitation and 3.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ruby, SC
Average High — January	56.0°F
Average High — July	92.3°F
Annual Precipitation	49.8"
Annual Snowfall	3.2"

Demographics

Metric	Ruby, SC	National Avg
Population	359	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	53.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	44.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.2%	22.2%
65 and over	10.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mount Croghan, SC 3 mi Chesterfield, SC 6 mi Pageland, SC 12 mi McFarlan, NC 12 mi Morven, NC 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Ruby

Ruby, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29741

Ruby vs Other Cities

Ruby, SC vs Mount Croghan, SC Ruby, SC vs Chesterfield, SC Ruby, SC vs Pageland, SC Ruby, SC vs McFarlan, NC Ruby, SC vs Morven, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruby, SC affordable or expensive?

Ruby's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ruby roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $129,300 and median rent is $790/month.

What is the crime rate in Ruby, SC?

Ruby'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.

What are the schools like in Ruby?

Public schools in Ruby 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. 12.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ruby, SC a good place to live?

Ruby, SC has a population of 359, a median household income of $37,083, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Ruby?

Ruby averages 56.0°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.8 inches with about 3.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ruby?

Ruby, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29741.

What is the population of Ruby?

The population of Ruby, South Carolina is 359 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ruby?

Key numbers for living in Ruby: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $129,300, median household income $37,083, 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 Ruby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.