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Living in
Florence.
About
Life in Florence
If you're considering Florence as a place to live, understand that you're looking at a solid working city in the Deep South, not a vacation destination—though the proximity to Myrtle Beach (70 miles) and Charleston (120 miles) is a nice bonus for weekends. The economy is genuinely diversified with healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and finance all established here, which translates to reasonable job stability and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Housing is affordable—median home values around $211,400 and rents near $992/month—and median household income sits at $56,433, giving you decent purchasing power for the Southeast.
Florence at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.9%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Florence: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Florence, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.5%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.2%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.42
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 16% below SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Florence
In Florence, rent runs 16% below the SC average, and home values are 18% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$860
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $224,906 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SC
Unemployment in Florence
Unemployment in Florence 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 Florence Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.7 min avg
How Florence residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Florence, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Florence Regional Airport (FLO)
Regional airport · few flights25k passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 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 90% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Florence runs 90% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
627.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,607
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Florence Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Florence County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Florence County, which includes Florence, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2023 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $103,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $276,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27,500 |
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
Florence County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Florence County, which includes Florence, is typically good — 235 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
235
per year
Moderate Days
125
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Florence County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Florence has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.4"
Hot Days/Year
70
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
40
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 36°F | 3.08" |
| Feb | 61°F | 39°F | 3.00" |
| Mar | 68°F | 44°F | 3.19" |
| Apr | 77°F | 52°F | 3.00" |
| May | 84°F | 61°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 89°F | 69°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 5.80" |
| Aug | 90°F | 71°F | 4.86" |
| Sep | 85°F | 66°F | 4.53" |
| Oct | 77°F | 54°F | 3.42" |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 2.63" |
| Dec | 59°F | 38°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Florence
Florence has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Mcleod Regional Medical Center-pee Dee
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Musc Health Florence 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.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Florence
Florence's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Congaree National Park, 61 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Florence
Florence has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Congaree National Park (61 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Congaree National Park
National Park
61 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayMoores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Florence
Florence County Library
509 South Dargan Street, Florence
Cities Near Florence
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Florence?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Florence FAQ
Is Florence, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Florence's median rent is $992/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,143/year. Median home value is $211,400.
Is Florence, South Carolina safe?⌄
Florence's violent crime rate was 627 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4607 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Florence, South Carolina?⌄
Florence has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Florence, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Florence is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $992/month and median household income is $56,143/year. The median home value is $211,400. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Florence, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Florence is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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