C

Rock Hill, SC

Source:

Affordability Score: 56/100

Population: 107,897 · 3 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Rock Hill, SC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes covering 107,897 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (56/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,849, median home value of $297,346, median rent of $1,321 per month, and 34.7% 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 $1,686 per month (studio $1,469, 1BR $1,538, 3BR $2,076, 4BR $2,637). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,344 per year, consuming 13% 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. Unemployment currently reads 4.7% and poverty 10.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,849
Median household income
Education C
34.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.9x
Home value $297,346 vs income
Commute D
26 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,686/mo
2BR fair market rent (26% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$10,344/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,849
▲ 24% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,948
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Poverty Rate
10.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$297,346
▲ 8% vs national
Median Rent
$1,321/mo
Owner Occupied
66.7%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,686/mo
▲ 41% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,469
1BR
$1,538
2BR
$1,686
3BR
$2,076
4BR
$2,637

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
34.7%
▲ 5 ppt vs national
High School+
58.7%
Median Age
38.8
Avg. Commute
26 min
▲ 0 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,344/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,622/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,418/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,158/yr

What This Means

Rock Hill, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100), aggregated from 3 ZIP codes with a total population of 107,897. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Rock Hill ZIP Codes
View all 3 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Rock Hill, SC affordable?
Rock Hill, SC receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,849. Median home value is $297,346.
What is the cost of living in Rock Hill?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,321/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,686/mo. Infant childcare $10,344/yr. Median home value $297,346.
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 →