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Living in
Aiken.
About
Life in Aiken
If you're considering Aiken, understand that you're moving to a city with genuine history and a notably older demographic—nearly 30% of residents are 65 and older—which shapes the community's pace and priorities. The unemployment rate is low at 4.7%, though the job market will largely depend on education, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors rather than explosive opportunity. You'll need a car; the average commute is about 23 minutes, and the city is suburban and car-dependent by design.
Aiken at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
93.1%
of households
Population Growth
+5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Aiken: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Aiken, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (15.6%), and 2.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
29.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.4%
of households
Married Couples
43.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for SC
Rent, home values, and income in Aiken
In Aiken, home values are 11% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,273
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $274,289 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SC
Unemployment in Aiken
Unemployment in Aiken is close to the SC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Aiken Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.2 min avg
How Aiken residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Aiken, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Augusta Regional At Bush Field (AGS)
Regional airport · few flights319k passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 123 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 37% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Aiken runs 37% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
450.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,402.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Aiken Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Aiken County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Aiken County, which includes Aiken, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43.0M |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200 |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,040 |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,010 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,120 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Aiken County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Aiken County, which includes Aiken, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Aiken County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Aiken has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.7"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
41
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 35°F | 4.56" |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 4.16" |
| Mar | 68°F | 44°F | 4.69" |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 3.08" |
| May | 84°F | 61°F | 3.53" |
| Jun | 89°F | 69°F | 5.43" |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 5.62" |
| Aug | 90°F | 71°F | 5.02" |
| Sep | 85°F | 65°F | 4.12" |
| Oct | 77°F | 53°F | 2.90" |
| Nov | 67°F | 41°F | 3.37" |
| Dec | 59°F | 36°F | 4.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Aiken
Aiken has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Aiken Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Aiken
Aiken's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 47.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
47.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ninety Six National Historic Site, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Aiken
Aiken has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ninety Six National Historic Site (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ninety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
45 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Aiken
Aiken County Public Library
314 Chesterfield Street, S.W., Aiken
Cities Near Aiken
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Aiken?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Aiken FAQ
Is Aiken, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Aiken's median rent is $1,180/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $76,746/year. Median home value is $286,800.
Is Aiken, South Carolina safe?⌄
Aiken's violent crime rate was 451 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3402 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Aiken, South Carolina?⌄
Aiken has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Aiken, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Aiken is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,180/month and median household income is $76,746/year. The median home value is $286,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Aiken, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Aiken is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from