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Central, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Pickens County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
5,299 Population 1,630/sq mi density
$58,262 Median Income $21,506 per capita
$228,500 Home Value $283,603 Zillow
$973 Median Rent 27.7% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
19 Violent Crime/100K 2,528 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$58,262 median income, 2.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$228,500 home value, $973/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
19 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
4.9 / 5.0
48.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Central, SC

At a Glance

Median Income
$58,262
22% below
$21,506 per capita
Home Value
$228,500
19% below
Zillow: $283,603
Median Rent
$973/mo
16% below
27.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
19/100K
95% below
2,528/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
48.6%
44% above
90.7% high school+
Unemployment
2.8%
22% below
12.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.4%
26% above
16.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F
301 sunny days/yr

How Central Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Central's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
78%
Home Value
81%
Rent
84%
Poverty
104%
Bachelor's
144%
Unemployment
78%
Crime
5%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Central a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Central residents earn a median household income of $58,262 , which is 22% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $21,506. The unemployment rate stands at 2.8% (22% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,956 business establishments, including 263 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Central is $228,500 , 19% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $283,603. Median rent is $973/month, with 27.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1992.

Safety & Crime

Central reports 19 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 95% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 2,528/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

48.6% of adults in Central hold a bachelor's degree or higher (44% above the national average). 90.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Central has an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 52.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Data Overview

People

Population5,299
Median Age22.7 yrs
Density1,630/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans1.7%

Economy

B+
Median Income$58,262
Per Capita$21,506
Unemployment2.8%
Poverty12.9%
County GDP$6,019M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,035

Housing

A
Home Value$228,500
Rent$973
Ownership23.0%
Zillow$283,603
Housing Units2,194
Rent Burden27.7%

Crime

F
Violent19/100K
Property2,528/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault0/100K
Burglary56/100K

Health

Obesity40.4%
Diabetes14.0%
Smoking16.5%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death10,324/100K

Climate

Avg Temp62°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain52.4 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation884 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+48.6%
High School+90.7%
Graduate+18.6%
School Score5.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 76% / D 23%
Commute19 min
Broadband74.7%
Internet Speed135 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Central was built in 1992.
The nearest airport is Oconee County Regional (7 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.492 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
9.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 135 Mbps.
There are 263 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 17 fatal vehicle crashes.