What it's like to live in Aiken
Aiken is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Aiken deals with crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Aiken compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Aiken
Based on Aiken's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,360
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,200 a year
- 52% of Aiken renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$57,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,680
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 16% below US
$1,180/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,180 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $286,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $286,800 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 37% above US
451 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3402/100k · Aiken Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ninety Six National Historic Site (45 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Aiken's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,180/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
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