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Living in
Berea.
Berea is an unincorporated community in Greenville County, SC. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Berea
Life in Berea means being part of a genuinely diverse, working-class community that's been growing steadily—up about 13.6% in recent years—while staying affordable enough that homeownership is actually achievable on a median household income around $50,000. You're in the Greenville metro area but with your own distinct identity: about a quarter of residents are from Latino communities (mostly Mexican ancestry), nearly a fifth are African American, and there's a real sense of neighborhood character that comes from families putting down roots here rather than just passing through. The cost of living is one of Berea's genuine strengths—median home values sit around $204,700 and rent averages just over $1,000 a month—which keeps the place accessible even as South Carolina's Upstate region becomes increasingly popular.
Berea at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.9%
Foreign-Born
18.4%
Broadband Internet
87.3%
of households
Population Growth
+13.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.4% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Berea: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Berea, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (28.1%), and 25.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
39.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
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 9% below SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Berea
In Berea, rent runs 9% below the SC average, and home values are 21% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,301
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below SC average
Unemployment in Berea
Unemployment in Greenville County, which includes Berea, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Berea: Greenville County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Greenville County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Berea is about 3% of Greenville County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Berea Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.6 min avg
How Berea residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Berea, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
Small hub1.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 89 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, which covers Berea, is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
322.9
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,222.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Greenville County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Greenville County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Greenville County, which includes Berea, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31.4M |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $761,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.6M |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $150,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
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
Greenville County, county-wide
Berea is about 3% of Greenville County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Greenville County, which includes Berea, is typically good — 203 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
203
per year
Moderate Days
162
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Greenville County, county-wide
Berea is about 3% of Greenville County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Berea has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.0"
Annual Snowfall
1.9"
Hot Days/Year
52
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
44
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 35°F | 4.00" |
| Feb | 58°F | 38°F | 3.71" |
| Mar | 65°F | 44°F | 4.25" |
| Apr | 75°F | 52°F | 3.63" |
| May | 81°F | 61°F | 3.86" |
| Jun | 88°F | 68°F | 3.86" |
| Jul | 91°F | 72°F | 5.16" |
| Aug | 89°F | 71°F | 4.00" |
| Sep | 84°F | 65°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 74°F | 54°F | 3.23" |
| Nov | 64°F | 44°F | 3.60" |
| Dec | 56°F | 37°F | 4.29" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Berea
Uninsured
18.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Berea's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis-downtown
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Greenville
Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5 mi away · Greenville
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Childrens · 5.2 mi away · Greenville
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.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Berea
Berea's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Berea (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,005 students · in-state tuition $25,150 · 65% graduate · median earnings $49,158 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-South Carolina
4.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,868 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (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: Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Berea
Berea has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
40 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
47 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
57 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
63 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
64 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
77 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayCities Near Berea
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Berea?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Berea FAQ
Is Berea, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Berea's median rent is $1,076/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,829/year. Median home value is $204,700.
Is Berea, South Carolina safe?⌄
Berea is policed by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 323 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1223 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Berea, South Carolina?⌄
Greenville County, which includes Berea, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Berea, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Berea is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,076/month and median household income is $49,829/year. The median home value is $204,700. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Berea, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Berea is 25 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