Seneca South Carolina city hall · KudzuVine / CC BY-SA 3.0Seneca SC welcome sign · See below / Public domainSeneca Cotton Warehouse · Radiocom / Public domain
Seneca is a small town of 8,834 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $48,108
and a 11.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Seneca stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Seneca is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Seneca 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: 93.0
Seneca's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Seneca costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Seneca, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$201,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$757
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,108
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Seneca's violent crime rate is 615.0 per 100,000 residents
— 62% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
615.0 /100k
Property Crime
1724.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Seneca is served primarily by Oconee 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Seneca, SC
National Avg
School District
Oconee 01
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Seneca sees average highs of 51.9°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 58.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.2 inches of snow per year.
Seneca's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Seneca roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $201,300 and median rent is $757/month.
Seneca's violent crime rate is 615.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1724.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Seneca are operated by Oconee 01.
The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Seneca, SC has a population of 8,834, a median household income of $48,108, and an unemployment rate of 11.0%.
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.
Seneca averages 51.9°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.8 inches
with about 2.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Seneca, SC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 29678, 29672.
The population of Seneca, South Carolina is 8,834 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Seneca: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $201,300, median household income $48,108, crime index 130 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Seneca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
