© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Anderson.
About
Life in Anderson
Anderson works well if you want a genuine small city with real job opportunities rather than a tourist destination playing dress-up. The manufacturing base is legitimate—over 230 companies, major BMW supplier presence, and significant automotive and plastics sectors mean actual employment for skilled trades and industrial workers. A 21-minute average commute keeps things manageable.
Anderson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
87.7%
of households
Population Growth
+6.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Anderson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Anderson, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (10.5%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.4%
of households
Married Couples
32.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
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 17% below SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Anderson
In Anderson, rent runs 17% below the SC average, and home values are 16% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,366
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $269,695 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SC
Unemployment in Anderson
Unemployment in Anderson 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 Anderson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22 min avg
How Anderson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Anderson, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
Small hub1.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 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 76% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Anderson runs 76% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
581.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,138.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Anderson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anderson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anderson County, which includes Anderson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.6M |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $95,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $58,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Anderson County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anderson County, which includes Anderson, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Anderson County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Anderson has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
57
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 33°F | 4.61" |
| Feb | 57°F | 35°F | 4.37" |
| Mar | 65°F | 41°F | 4.79" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 4.11" |
| May | 81°F | 59°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 3.76" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 4.76" |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 3.76" |
| Oct | 74°F | 52°F | 3.27" |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 3.98" |
| Dec | 55°F | 35°F | 5.01" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Anderson
Anderson has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Anmed Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Patrick B Harris Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.2 mi away · Anderson
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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Anderson
Anderson's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Anderson
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,183 students · in-state tuition $36,360 · 63% graduate · median earnings $51,191 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ninety Six National Historic Site, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Anderson
Anderson has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ninety Six National Historic Site (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ninety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
63 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
73 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
83 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
84 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Anderson
Anderson County Library
300 N Mcduffie Street, Anderson
Westside Community Center Branch
1100 West Franklin Street, Anderson
Cities Near Anderson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Anderson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Anderson FAQ
Is Anderson, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Anderson's median rent is $975/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,933/year. Median home value is $218,200.
Is Anderson, South Carolina safe?⌄
Anderson's violent crime rate was 581 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4138 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Anderson, South Carolina?⌄
Anderson has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Anderson, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Anderson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $975/month and median household income is $46,933/year. The median home value is $218,200. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Anderson, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Anderson is 22 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