C-

Liberty, SC

Source:

Affordability Score: 53/100

Population: 15,116 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Liberty, SC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 15,116 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (53/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $64,833, median home value of $194,400, median rent of $873 per month, and 18.7% 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 $1,339 per month (studio $1,166, 1BR $1,221, 3BR $1,612, 4BR $1,943). 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 2.8% and poverty 14.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$64,833
Median household income
Education F
18.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $194,400 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,339/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% 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
$64,833
▲ 5% vs national
Per Capita Income
$34,783
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Poverty Rate
14.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$194,400
▼ 29% vs national
Median Rent
$873/mo
Owner Occupied
85.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,339/mo
▲ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,166
1BR
$1,221
2BR
$1,339
3BR
$1,612
4BR
$1,943

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
18.7%
▼ 11 ppt vs national
High School+
51.3%
Median Age
37.9
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

Liberty, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 15,116. Challenges include education. 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 Liberty, SC affordable?
Liberty, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $64,833. Median home value is $194,400.
What is the cost of living in Liberty?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $873/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,339/mo. Infant childcare $10,344/yr. Median home value $194,400.
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 →