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Living in
Orangeburg.
About
Life in Orangeburg
Orangeburg is a community of 13,189 people in South Carolina. The median household income is $38,635, median rent runs about $848 per month, and median home values are around $164,000. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.
Orangeburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
32.6%
Foreign-Born
1.5%
Broadband Internet
79.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.5% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Orangeburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Orangeburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (30.2%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
47.7%
of households
Married Couples
25.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 28% below SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Orangeburg
In Orangeburg, rent runs 28% below the SC average, and home values are 37% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
41.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,152
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Vacant Homes
22.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $165,830 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts above SC average
Unemployment in Orangeburg
Unemployment in Orangeburg County, which includes Orangeburg, is 1.9 percentage points higher than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Orangeburg: Orangeburg County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orangeburg County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Orangeburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.3 min avg
How Orangeburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Orangeburg, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
Small hub663k passengers boarded in 2025
- 62 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 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 244% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Orangeburg runs 244% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,131.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,251.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Orangeburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orangeburg County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orangeburg County, which includes Orangeburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.9M |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $510,400 |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $311,130 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,120 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $330 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300 |
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
Orangeburg County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Richland County, SC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 37 miles from Orangeburg) is typically good — 212 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
212
per year
Moderate Days
153
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Richland County, SC (37 mi away)
Climate92°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Orangeburg has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
85
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
43
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 37°F | 3.96" |
| Feb | 63°F | 40°F | 3.86" |
| Mar | 70°F | 46°F | 3.89" |
| Apr | 78°F | 52°F | 3.29" |
| May | 85°F | 61°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 5.47" |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 5.80" |
| Aug | 92°F | 71°F | 5.29" |
| Sep | 87°F | 66°F | 4.49" |
| Oct | 79°F | 54°F | 3.52" |
| Nov | 69°F | 44°F | 3.09" |
| Dec | 62°F | 38°F | 3.78" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Orangeburg
Uninsured
11.2%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Orangeburg
Orangeburg's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.3%
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
Colleges & Universities in Orangeburg
South Carolina State University
Public · 4-year · 2,934 students · in-state tuition $11,060 · 36% graduate · median earnings $41,531 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,706 students · in-state tuition $19,075 · 52% graduate · median earnings $44,351 (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: Congaree National Park, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Orangeburg
Orangeburg has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Congaree National Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Congaree National Park
National Park
22 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Orangeburg
Orangeburg County Library Commission
1645 Russell Street, Orangeburg
Cities Near Orangeburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Orangeburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Orangeburg FAQ
Is Orangeburg, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Orangeburg's median rent is $848/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $38,635/year. Median home value is $163,500.
Is Orangeburg, South Carolina safe?⌄
Orangeburg's violent crime rate was 1132 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4251 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Orangeburg, South Carolina?⌄
Orangeburg County, which includes Orangeburg, has an unemployment rate of 6.4%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Orangeburg, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Orangeburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $848/month and median household income is $38,635/year. The median home value is $163,500. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Orangeburg, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Orangeburg 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