Counties with the lowest cost of living in South Carolina; Clarendon and Lee made the list
Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in South Carolina using rankings from Niche.
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#30. Greenwood County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,381
- Population: 69,309
- Median household income: $47,553
- Median home value: $144,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $849 (35% rent)
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#29. Aiken County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,339
- Population: 169,865
- Median household income: $63,212
- Median home value: $181,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $973 (25% rent)
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#28. Oconee County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,278
- Population: 78,775
- Median household income: $56,710
- Median home value: $192,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $852 (25% rent)
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#27. Anderson County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,277
- Population: 204,592
- Median household income: $62,347
- Median home value: $189,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $904 (25% rent)
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#26. Colleton County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,142
- Population: 38,561
- Median household income: $46,795
- Median home value: $127,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $826 (27% rent)
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#25. Florence County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,118
- Population: 137,015
- Median household income: $56,088
- Median home value: $157,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $871 (35% rent)
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#24. Kershaw County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,116
- Population: 65,779
- Median household income: $61,343
- Median home value: $173,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $844 (18% rent)
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#23. Fairfield County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,043
- Population: 20,942
- Median household income: $44,521
- Median home value: $123,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $830 (25% rent)
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#22. Darlington County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 1,028
- Population: 63,025
- Median household income: $44,317
- Median home value: $132,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $804 (31% rent)
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#21. Laurens County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 807
- Population: 67,456
- Median household income: $52,077
- Median home value: $138,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $826 (29% rent)
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#20. Newberry County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 790
- Population: 37,918
- Median household income: $56,706
- Median home value: $139,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $855 (26% rent)
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#19. Chester County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 747
- Population: 32,171
- Median household income: $50,022
- Median home value: $133,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $831 (23% rent)
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#18. Orangeburg County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 726
- Population: 84,159
- Median household income: $41,020
- Median home value: $105,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $771 (35% rent)
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#17. Cherokee County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 721
- Population: 56,200
- Median household income: $47,011
- Median home value: $124,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $828 (29% rent)
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#16. Edgefield County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 655
- Population: 26,181
- Median household income: $60,033
- Median home value: $162,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $786 (25% rent)
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#15. Barnwell County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 620
- Population: 20,653
- Median household income: $42,470
- Median home value: $97,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $763 (29% rent)
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#14. Hampton County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 608
- Population: 18,890
- Median household income: $40,157
- Median home value: $93,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $808 (25% rent)
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#13. Calhoun County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 605
- Population: 14,145
- Median household income: $55,550
- Median home value: $130,900 (83% own)
- Median rent: $968 (17% rent)
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#12. Abbeville County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 519
- Population: 24,368
- Median household income: $49,759
- Median home value: $118,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $791 (24% rent)
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#11. Clarendon County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 468
- Population: 31,163
- Median household income: $48,677
- Median home value: $134,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $670 (26% rent)
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#10. Lee County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 426
- Population: 16,557
- Median household income: $39,099
- Median home value: $93,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $753 (26% rent)
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#9. Union County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 412
- Population: 27,158
- Median household income: $42,305
- Median home value: $95,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $782 (31% rent)
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#8. Williamsburg County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 383
- Population: 30,879
- Median household income: $40,848
- Median home value: $86,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $786 (26% rent)
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#7. Marlboro County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 357
- Population: 26,585
- Median household income: $34,275
- Median home value: $77,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $680 (37% rent)
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#6. Bamberg County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 355
- Population: 13,311
- Median household income: $43,920
- Median home value: $97,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $772 (26% rent)
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#5. Marion County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 300
- Population: 29,212
- Median household income: $35,972
- Median home value: $90,200 (60% own)
- Median rent: $643 (40% rent)
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#4. Saluda County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 239
- Population: 18,952
- Median household income: $51,041
- Median home value: $117,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $709 (22% rent)
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#3. Dillon County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 197
- Population: 28,255
- Median household income: $42,454
- Median home value: $89,500 (57% own)
- Median rent: $716 (43% rent)
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#2. Chesterfield County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 187
- Population: 43,536
- Median household income: $46,326
- Median home value: $91,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $796 (28% rent)
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#1. Allendale County, South Carolina
- Overall Rank: 139
- Population: 8,073
- Median household income: $37,096
- Median home value: $61,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $713 (33% rent)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.