What is the median household income in Watts Mills?

The median household income in Watts Mills, SC is $43,401 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.0%.

What is the weather like in Watts Mills, SC?

Watts Mills has an average high temperature of 53.3°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Watts Mills, SC affordable or expensive?

Watts Mills's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watts Mills is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $43,900 and the median rent is $637 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Watts Mills, SC?

Watts Mills has a violent crime rate of 548.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2255.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What are the schools like in Watts Mills, SC?

School district data for Watts Mills is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Is Watts Mills, SC a Good Place to Live?

Watts Mills is a small town of 2,013 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $43,401 and a 13.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Watts Mills stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

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

All Watts Mills 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: 92.8

Watts Mills's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watts Mills costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watts Mills, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$43,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$637	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,401	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Watts Mills's violent crime rate is 548.2 per 100,000 residents — 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

548.2 /100k

Property Crime

2255.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Watts Mills, SC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	3.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	65.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watts Mills sees average highs of 53.3°F in January and 90.9°F in July, with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watts Mills, SC
Average High — January	53.3°F
Average High — July	90.9°F
Annual Precipitation	46.7"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Watts Mills, SC	National Avg
Population	2,013	—
Median Age	31.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	15.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	9.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Laurens, SC 2 mi Clinton, SC 8 mi Gray Court, SC 10 mi Mountville, SC 10 mi Enoree, SC 10 mi

Watts Mills vs Other Cities

Watts Mills, SC vs Laurens, SC Watts Mills, SC vs Clinton, SC Watts Mills, SC vs Gray Court, SC Watts Mills, SC vs Mountville, SC Watts Mills, SC vs Enoree, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watts Mills, SC affordable or expensive?

Watts Mills's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watts Mills roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $43,900 and median rent is $637/month.

What is the crime rate in Watts Mills, SC?

Watts Mills's violent crime rate is 548.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2255.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watts Mills?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Watts Mills, SC a good place to live?

Watts Mills, SC has a population of 2,013, a median household income of $43,401, and an unemployment rate of 13.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Watts Mills?

Watts Mills averages 53.3°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Watts Mills?

The population of Watts Mills, South Carolina is 2,013 with a median age of 31.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Watts Mills?

Key numbers for living in Watts Mills: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $43,900, median household income $43,401, crime index 130 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watts Mills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.