What it's like to live in North Augusta
North Augusta is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Augusta deals with hot summers, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How North Augusta compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Augusta
Based on North Augusta's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,338
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $46,760 a year
- 35% of North Augusta renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,360
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 17% below US
$1,169/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,169 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $233,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $233,600 · 35% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 55% below US
149 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 1543/100k · North Augusta Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 42°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% 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
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. 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 Ninety Six National Historic Site (43 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Augusta's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are hot summers and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,169/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for North Augusta →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near North Augusta
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Aiken →
13 mi away · pop. 32,521
Rent $1,180/mo · Income $76,746
Compare with North Augusta →Moving to Greenwood →
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Rent $839/mo · Income $41,150
Compare with North Augusta →Moving to Red Bank →
50 mi away · pop. 11,314
Rent $1,160/mo · Income $68,004
Compare with North Augusta →Moving to Lexington →
53 mi away · pop. 24,585
Rent $1,545/mo · Income $87,126
Compare with North Augusta →Not sure North Augusta is the one?
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