Saluda is a small town of 3,124 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $32,986
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Saluda stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Saluda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Saluda 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
Saluda's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Saluda costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Saluda, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$76,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$685
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$32,986
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Saluda's violent crime rate is 327.4 per 100,000 residents
— 14% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
327.4 /100k
Property Crime
1539.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Saluda is served primarily by Saluda 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Saluda, SC
National Avg
School District
Saluda 01
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
71.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Saluda sees average highs of 53.9°F in January
and 92.6°F in July,
with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Saluda's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Saluda roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $76,300 and median rent is $685/month.
Saluda's violent crime rate is 327.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1539.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Saluda are operated by Saluda 01.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Saluda, SC has a population of 3,124, a median household income of $32,986, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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.
Saluda averages 53.9°F in January and 92.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches
with about 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Saluda, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29138.
The population of Saluda, South Carolina is 3,124 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Saluda: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $76,300, median household income $32,986, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Saluda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
