What it's like to live in Simpsonville
Simpsonville is a small city in South Carolina with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, 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. Simpsonville deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, above-average rainfall, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Simpsonville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Simpsonville
Based on Simpsonville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,830
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,600 a year
- 44% of Simpsonville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,860
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,930
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,415/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,415 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $299,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $299,300 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 32% below US
225 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 2093/100k · Simpsonville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. 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 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
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
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cowpens National Battlefield (38 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Simpsonville's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,415/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
See all the data for Simpsonville →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near Simpsonville
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Fountain Inn →
4 mi away · pop. 12,020
Rent $1,184/mo · Income $73,585
Compare with Simpsonville →Moving to Mauldin →
4 mi away · pop. 27,055
Rent $1,490/mo · Income $82,331
Compare with Simpsonville →Moving to Five Forks →
6 mi away · pop. 18,656
Rent $2,178/mo · Income $141,786
Compare with Simpsonville →Not sure Simpsonville is the one?
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