MetricAiken, SCLexington, SC
Population32,52124,585
Median Household Income$76,746$87,126
Median Rent$1,180/mo$1,545/mo
Median Home Value$286,800$297,700
Cost of Living (US = 100)9294
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income52.4%45.6%
Poverty Rate17%7.4%
Unemployment Rate4.7%3.6%
Violent Crime Rate /100k451171
Property Crime Rate /100k3,4021,182
Median AQI39—
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs91°F91°F
Winter Lows36°F36°F
Snowfall1 in/yr1 in/yr
Avg Commute24.2 min25.2 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating2.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.713.4
College Degree Rate47.7%50.7%
Foreign-Born %3.3%10.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+5.2%+8.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.