What are the schools like in Socastee, SC?

Socastee is served primarily by Horry 01. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 14 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Socastee?

The median household income in Socastee, SC is $54,405 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Socastee, SC?

Socastee has an average high temperature of 58.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Socastee, SC affordable or expensive?

Socastee's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Socastee is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $201,100 and the median rent is $1,132 per month.

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

Socastee has a violent crime rate of 423.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2341.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Socastee, SC a Good Place to Live?

Socastee is a small city of 24,464 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $54,405 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Socastee 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 Socastee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Socastee 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: 96.3

Socastee's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Socastee costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Socastee, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$201,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,132	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,405	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Socastee's violent crime rate is 423.9 per 100,000 residents — 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

423.9 /100k

Property Crime

2341.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Socastee is served primarily by Horry 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Socastee, SC	National Avg
School District	Horry 01	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	13	—
High Schools	14	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Socastee sees average highs of 58.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July, with 55.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Socastee, SC
Average High — January	58.1°F
Average High — July	90.8°F
Annual Precipitation	55.5"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Socastee, SC	National Avg
Population	24,464	—
Median Age	42.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Forestbrook, SC 3 mi Surfside Beach, SC 6 mi Red Hill, SC 6 mi Bucksport, SC 6 mi Garden City, SC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Socastee

Socastee, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29588

Socastee vs Other Cities

Socastee, SC vs Forestbrook, SC Socastee, SC vs Surfside Beach, SC Socastee, SC vs Red Hill, SC Socastee, SC vs Bucksport, SC Socastee, SC vs Garden City, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Socastee, SC affordable or expensive?

Socastee's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Socastee roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $201,100 and median rent is $1,132/month.

What is the crime rate in Socastee, SC?

Socastee's violent crime rate is 423.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2341.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Socastee?

Public schools in Socastee are operated by Horry 01. The district has 30 elementary, 13 middle, and 14 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Socastee, SC a good place to live?

Socastee, SC has a population of 24,464, a median household income of $54,405, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. 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 Socastee?

Socastee averages 58.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.5 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Socastee?

Socastee, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29588.

What is the population of Socastee?

The population of Socastee, South Carolina is 24,464 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Socastee?

Key numbers for living in Socastee: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $201,100, median household income $54,405, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Socastee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.