B+

Simpsonville, SC

Source:

Affordability Score: 75/100

Population: 74,264 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Simpsonville, SC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 74,264 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (75/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $104,599, median home value of $340,193, median rent of $1,618 per month, and 47.3% 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 $10,506 per year, consuming 10% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Simpsonville, SC include income, education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.4% and poverty 5.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A-
$104,599
Median household income
Education B+
47.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $340,193 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,339/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$10,506/yr
Center-based infant care (10% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$104,599
▲ 69% vs national
Per Capita Income
$45,645
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Poverty Rate
5.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$340,193
▲ 24% vs national
Median Rent
$1,618/mo
Owner Occupied
82.3%
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+
47.3%
▲ 17 ppt vs national
High School+
67.6%
Median Age
38.2
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,506/yr
10% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,775/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,565/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,232/yr

What This Means

Simpsonville, SC receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 74,264. This area performs well in income and education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Simpsonville ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Simpsonville, SC affordable?
Simpsonville, SC receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $104,599. Median home value is $340,193.
What is the cost of living in Simpsonville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,618/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,339/mo. Infant childcare $10,506/yr. Median home value $340,193.
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 →