What it's like to live in Clemson
Clemson is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Clemson deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Clemson compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Clemson
Based on Clemson's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,014
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $40,280 a year
- 58% of Clemson renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$79,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,840
- Homes cost 8.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 29% below US
$1,007/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,007 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices run above average, with a median around $398,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $398,400 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Pickens County is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Pickens County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 61% below US
127 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1375/100k · Clemson Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 65% above US
59% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below 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 Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (45 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Clemson's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,007/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Clemson
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