What are the schools like in Swansea, SC?

Swansea is served primarily by Lexington 04. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Swansea?

The median household income in Swansea, SC is $41,823 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Swansea, SC?

Swansea has an average high temperature of 57.9°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Swansea, SC affordable or expensive?

Swansea's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Swansea is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,800 and the median rent is $820 per month.

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

Swansea has a violent crime rate of 518.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4274.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Swansea, SC a Good Place to Live?

Swansea is a small town of 739 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $41,823 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Swansea stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Swansea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Swansea 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

Swansea's overall cost of living index is 92.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Swansea costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Swansea, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$820	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,823	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Swansea's violent crime rate is 518.1 per 100,000 residents — 36% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

518.1 /100k

Property Crime

4274.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Swansea is served primarily by Lexington 04. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Swansea, SC	National Avg
School District	Lexington 04	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Swansea sees average highs of 57.9°F in January and 92.9°F in July, with 49.3 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Swansea, SC
Average High — January	57.9°F
Average High — July	92.9°F
Annual Precipitation	49.3"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Swansea, SC	National Avg
Population	739	—
Median Age	44.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	30.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	65.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Woodford, SC 5 mi Gaston, SC 5 mi North, SC 9 mi Pelion, SC 9 mi Edmund, SC 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Swansea

Swansea, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29160

Swansea vs Other Cities

Swansea, SC vs Woodford, SC Swansea, SC vs Gaston, SC Swansea, SC vs North, SC Swansea, SC vs Pelion, SC Swansea, SC vs Edmund, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swansea, SC affordable or expensive?

Swansea's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Swansea roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,800 and median rent is $820/month.

What is the crime rate in Swansea, SC?

Swansea's violent crime rate is 518.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4274.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Swansea?

Public schools in Swansea are operated by Lexington 04. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 4.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Swansea, SC a good place to live?

Swansea, SC has a population of 739, a median household income of $41,823, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Swansea?

Swansea averages 57.9°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.3 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Swansea?

Swansea, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29160.

What is the population of Swansea?

The population of Swansea, South Carolina is 739 with a median age of 44.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Swansea?

Key numbers for living in Swansea: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $97,800, median household income $41,823, crime index 163 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swansea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.