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Living in
Spartanburg.
About
Life in Spartanburg
Moving to Spartanburg means settling into a mid-sized city with real economic momentum, especially if you work in manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics—the BMW plant alone supports thousands of jobs in the county. Your cost of living will be reasonable compared to Charlotte or Atlanta, with median home values around $203,700 and median rent near $1,099, though median household income of $51,964 suggests you'll want stable employment. The downtown revitalization is genuine; Morgan Square and the Chapman Cultural Center anchor a growing cultural scene with theater, music, and art programming, plus you've got Converse University bringing in concerts and performances.
Spartanburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Foreign-Born
6.1%
Broadband Internet
85.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Spartanburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Spartanburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (14.9%), and 4.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 Spartanburg
In Spartanburg, rent runs 7% below the SC average, and home values are 21% below the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,542
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $229,696 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above SC average
Unemployment in Spartanburg
Unemployment in Spartanburg is 1 percentage points higher than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Spartanburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Spartanburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Spartanburg, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
Small hub1.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 59 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 307% above national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Spartanburg runs 307% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,477.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
5,279.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,767 national, 2024)
Spartanburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Spartanburg County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Spartanburg County, which includes Spartanburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35.2M |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $269,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,500 |
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
Spartanburg County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Spartanburg County, which includes Spartanburg, is typically good — 201 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
201
per year
Moderate Days
164
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Spartanburg County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Spartanburg has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"
Hot Days/Year
57
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
76
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 32°F | 4.34" |
| Feb | 59°F | 34°F | 3.77" |
| Mar | 66°F | 40°F | 4.81" |
| Apr | 75°F | 47°F | 4.29" |
| May | 81°F | 56°F | 3.92" |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 3.97" |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.56" |
| Sep | 83°F | 62°F | 3.65" |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 3.93" |
| Nov | 64°F | 38°F | 3.72" |
| Dec | 56°F | 34°F | 4.70" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Spartanburg
Spartanburg has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Spartanburg 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.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Spartanburg
Spartanburg's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Spartanburg
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,816 students · in-state tuition $58,250 · 82% graduate · median earnings $76,744 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,173 students · in-state tuition $34,144 · 55% graduate · median earnings $45,726 (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: Cowpens National Battlefield, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Spartanburg
Spartanburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cowpens National Battlefield (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
15 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
33 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
34 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
37 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
53 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
56 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Spartanburg
Spartanburg County Public Library System
151 S. Church Street, Spartanburg
Cities Near Spartanburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Spartanburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Spartanburg FAQ
Is Spartanburg, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Spartanburg's median rent is $1,099/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,964/year. Median home value is $203,700.
Is Spartanburg, South Carolina safe?⌄
Spartanburg's violent crime rate was 1478 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is significantly above the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5280 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Spartanburg, South Carolina?⌄
Spartanburg has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Spartanburg, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Spartanburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,099/month and median household income is $51,964/year. The median home value is $203,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Spartanburg, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Spartanburg is 20 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