C-

Leesville, SC

Source:

Affordability Score: 54/100

Population: 15,330 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Leesville, SC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 15,330 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (54/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $65,865, median home value of $197,600, median rent of $932 per month, and 17.6% 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 $1,276 per month (studio $1,032, 1BR $1,164, 3BR $1,623, 4BR $1,911). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,344 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 education. Unemployment currently reads 5.9% and poverty 15.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$65,865
Median household income
Education F
17.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $197,600 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,276/mo
2BR fair market rent (23% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$10,344/yr
Center-based infant care (16% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$65,865
▲ 6% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,413
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Poverty Rate
15.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$197,600
▼ 28% vs national
Median Rent
$932/mo
Owner Occupied
86.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,276/mo
▲ 6% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,032
1BR
$1,164
2BR
$1,276
3BR
$1,623
4BR
$1,911

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
17.6%
▼ 12 ppt vs national
High School+
59.0%
Median Age
45.7
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,344/yr
16% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,622/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,418/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,158/yr

What This Means

Leesville, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 15,330. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Leesville, SC affordable?
Leesville, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C- (54/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $65,865. Median home value is $197,600.
What is the cost of living in Leesville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $932/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,276/mo. Infant childcare $10,344/yr. Median home value $197,600.
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 →