What are the schools like in Summerville, SC?

Summerville is served primarily by Dorchester 02. The district operates 15 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Summerville?

The median household income in Summerville, SC is $73,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Summerville, SC?

Summerville has an average high temperature of 58.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Summerville, SC affordable or expensive?

Summerville's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Summerville is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $276,600 and the median rent is $1,328 per month.

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

Summerville has a violent crime rate of 222.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1768.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Summerville, SC a Good Place to Live?

Summerville is a mid-sized city of 50,839 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $73,712 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Summerville stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Summerville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Summerville 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: 99.1

Summerville's overall cost of living index is 99.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Summerville costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Summerville, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$276,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,328	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Summerville's violent crime rate is 222.4 per 100,000 residents — 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

222.4 /100k

Property Crime

1768.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Summerville is served primarily by Dorchester 02. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Summerville, SC	National Avg
School District	Dorchester 02	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Summerville sees average highs of 58.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July, with 52.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Summerville, SC
Average High — January	58.2°F
Average High — July	90.1°F
Annual Precipitation	52.7"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Summerville, SC	National Avg
Population	50,839	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	23.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lincolnville, SC 1 mi Sangaree, SC 4 mi Ladson, SC 4 mi North Charleston, SC 9 mi Ridgeville, SC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Summerville

Summerville, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29483

Summerville vs Other Cities

Summerville, SC vs Lincolnville, SC Summerville, SC vs Sangaree, SC Summerville, SC vs Ladson, SC Summerville, SC vs North Charleston, SC Summerville, SC vs Ridgeville, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Summerville, SC affordable or expensive?

Summerville's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Summerville roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $276,600 and median rent is $1,328/month.

What is the crime rate in Summerville, SC?

Summerville's violent crime rate is 222.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1768.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Summerville?

Public schools in Summerville are operated by Dorchester 02. The district has 15 elementary, 7 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 31.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Summerville, SC a good place to live?

Summerville, SC has a population of 50,839, a median household income of $73,712, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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 Summerville?

Summerville averages 58.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.7 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Summerville?

Summerville, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29483.

What is the population of Summerville?

The population of Summerville, South Carolina is 50,839 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Summerville?

Key numbers for living in Summerville: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $276,600, median household income $73,712, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Summerville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.