F

Great Falls, SC

Source:

Affordability Score: 38/100

Population: 4,337 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Great Falls, SC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 4,337 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (38/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $37,401, median home value of $107,400, median rent of $819 per month, and 12.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,056 per month (studio $811, 1BR $816, 3BR $1,469, 4BR $1,547). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $6,095 per year, consuming 16% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education, commute, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.7% and poverty 24.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$37,401
Median household income
Education F
12.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $107,400 vs income
Commute F
30 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,056/mo
2BR fair market rent (34% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$6,095/yr
Center-based infant care (16% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$37,401
▼ 40% vs national
Per Capita Income
$24,782
Unemployment Rate
5.7%
Poverty Rate
24.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$107,400
▼ 61% vs national
Median Rent
$819/mo
Owner Occupied
82.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,056/mo
▼ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$811
1BR
$816
2BR
$1,056
3BR
$1,469
4BR
$1,547

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.4%
▼ 18 ppt vs national
High School+
54.0%
Median Age
42.1
Avg. Commute
30 min
▲ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$6,095/yr
16% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,095/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,615/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,962/yr

What This Means

Great Falls, SC receives an overall affordability grade of F (38/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 4,337. Challenges include income and education and commute and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Great Falls, SC affordable?
Great Falls, SC receives an overall affordability grade of F (38/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $37,401. Median home value is $107,400.
What is the cost of living in Great Falls?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $819/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,056/mo. Infant childcare $6,095/yr. Median home value $107,400.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →