What it's like to live in Spartanburg
Spartanburg is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Spartanburg deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- Above-average rainfall
How Spartanburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Spartanburg
Based on Spartanburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,198
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,960 a year
- 50% of Spartanburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$40,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,370
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,099/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,099 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $203,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $203,700 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 307% above US
1478 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5280/100k · Spartanburg Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% 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
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Cowpens National Battlefield (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Spartanburg's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,099/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Spartanburg →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near Spartanburg
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Boiling Springs →
8 mi away · pop. 12,936
Rent $1,266/mo · Income $72,068
Compare with Spartanburg →Moving to Five Forks →
19 mi away · pop. 18,656
Rent $2,178/mo · Income $141,786
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