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Living in
Parker.
Parker 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 Parker
Parker is a community of 12,564 people in South Carolina. The median household income is $40,043, median rent runs about $1,099 per month, and median home values are around $150,400. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Parker at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.6%
Foreign-Born
19.7%
Broadband Internet
88.0%
of households
Population Growth
+2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Parker: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Parker, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.2%), and 29.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
10.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.8%
of households
Married Couples
29.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
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 7% below SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Parker
In Parker, rent runs 7% below the SC average, and home values are 42% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$986
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below SC average
Unemployment in Parker
Unemployment in Greenville County, which includes Parker, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Parker: Greenville County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Greenville County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Parker is about 2% of Greenville County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Parker Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.4 min avg
How Parker residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Parker, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 Parker, 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 Parker, 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
Parker is about 2% 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 Parker, 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
Parker is about 2% of Greenville County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Parker has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.0"
Annual Snowfall
1.9"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
73
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 30°F | 4.42" |
| Feb | 56°F | 33°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 64°F | 39°F | 4.30" |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 4.23" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 3.80" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.42" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.61" |
| Aug | 86°F | 68°F | 4.37" |
| Sep | 80°F | 62°F | 4.03" |
| Oct | 70°F | 50°F | 3.92" |
| Nov | 61°F | 39°F | 3.97" |
| Dec | 54°F | 33°F | 5.12" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Parker
Uninsured
28.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Parker's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis-downtown
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Greenville
Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 3 mi away · Greenville
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Childrens · 3.1 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.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Parker
Parker's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Parker (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
3.1 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, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Parker
Parker has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
41 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
49 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
55 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
79 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayCities Near Parker
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Parker?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Parker FAQ
Is Parker, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Parker's median rent is $1,099/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $40,043/year. Median home value is $150,400.
Is Parker, South Carolina safe?⌄
Parker 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 Parker, South Carolina?⌄
Greenville County, which includes Parker, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Parker, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Parker is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,099/month and median household income is $40,043/year. The median home value is $150,400. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Parker, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Parker 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