What it's like to live in Hanahan
Hanahan is a small city in South Carolina with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hanahan deals with above-average rainfall, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Hanahan compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hanahan
Based on Hanahan's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,824
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,480 a year
- 49% of Hanahan renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,480
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,412/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,412 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $374,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $374,800 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 31% below US
228 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 747/100k · Hanahan Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 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 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (12 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hanahan's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are above-average rainfall and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,412/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Hanahan
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