Spartanburg skyline - Sept. 2025 · PegasusRacer28 / CC BY-SA 4.0Love Where You Live mural in downtown Spartanburg · PegasusRacer28 / CC BY-SA 4.0Spartanburg County Courthouse - Dec. 2024 · PegasusRacer28 / CC BY-SA 4.0Spartanburgers opening night at Fifth Third Park · PegasusRacer28 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Spartanburg is a small city of 38,301 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $49,140
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Spartanburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Spartanburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Spartanburg 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: 94.1
Spartanburg's overall cost of living index is 94.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Spartanburg costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Spartanburg, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$165,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$983
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,140
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Spartanburg's violent crime rate is 1480.1 per 100,000 residents
— 289% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1480.1 /100k
Property Crime
5228.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Spartanburg is served primarily by Spartanburg 07.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Spartanburg, SC
National Avg
School District
Spartanburg 07
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
33.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Spartanburg sees average highs of 54.1°F in January
and 90.1°F in July,
with 50.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.8 inches of snow per year.
Spartanburg's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Spartanburg roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $165,000 and median rent is $983/month.
Spartanburg's violent crime rate is 1480.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5228.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Spartanburg are operated by Spartanburg 07.
The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 33.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Spartanburg, SC has a population of 38,301, a median household income of $49,140, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Spartanburg averages 54.1°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.2 inches
with about 0.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Spartanburg, SC is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 29306, 29302, 29301, 29307.
The population of Spartanburg, South Carolina is 38,301 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Spartanburg: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $165,000, median household income $49,140, crime index 333 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Spartanburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
