City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Saluda, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Saluda - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,095
Residents
$40,567
Median income
$81,500
Median home
$1,276
Median rent (state)

Saluda - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Saluda places in the 8th percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

8th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
44th
percentile, median rent
35th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Saluda, SC

Saluda is a small town in South Carolina, home to 3,095 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $40,567 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 52.7%. Saluda's housing stock carries a median value of $81,500, and the median resident age is 31.7 years. Educational attainment runs 15.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1866.4 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 62.2°F with 46.8 inches of precipitation per year and 0.4 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Carolina at 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,276 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 40.1 out of 100 (Low).

Population

3,095 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$40,567 /yr

Poverty 52.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Saluda compare to other US cities?

Here's how Saluda stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to South Carolina alone, Saluda ranks #39 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Saluda against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Saluda's strongest outlier among South Carolina cities

Among the 439 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Saluda ranks #10 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Saluda only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#292 of 403
28th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 441
59th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#349 of 404
14th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#10 of 439
98th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#271 of 441
38th percentile in South Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

8thIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Saluda's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Saluda's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Saluda's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Saluda's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$81,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Saluda $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Saluda, SC Saluda, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Saluda, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Saluda, SC median $40,567/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Saluda, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Saluda, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 52.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,095
Median Income
$40,567
Median Home Value
$81,500
Median Age
31.7
Poverty Rate
52.7%
Labor force participation
56.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1866.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
327.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1539.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.2°F
Annual Precipitation
46.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.4"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,020 residents3,040 residents3,060 residents3,080 residents3,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,080 residents 3,086 residents ▲ +0.2%
Saluda's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
53.1%
Carpool
17.8%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
7.6%
Work from Home
1.7%
Other
19.6%

Based on 1,149 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Saluda sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,276/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
40.1 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Burnettown
3,090 people
Inman
3,085 people
Golden Grove
3,084 people
Clearwater
3,124 people
Arthurtown
3,063 people
Hilltop
3,058 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Saluda's 3,095 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Parowan, UT
3,095 people
Cloverdale, VA
3,095 people
Bon Secour, AL
3,094 people
Wildwood Crest, NJ
3,094 people
Wellsville, OH
3,096 people
Millersburg, OR
3,096 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Saluda's $40,567 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Harrison, AR
$40,568 median income
Flippin, AR
$40,559 median income
Marenisco, MI
$40,556 median income
Williamston, NC
$40,556 median income
Wells River, VT
$40,556 median income
Avenue B and C, AZ
$40,554 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Saluda, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Saluda, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 21.2% 24.1% 10.7% 43.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 56.7% White 21.2% Black or African American 24.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 10.7% Two or more races 43.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Saluda compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Saluda (this city) 3,095 $40,567
Burnettown 3,090 $38,371
Inman 3,085 $55,156
Golden Grove 3,084 $71,694
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Saluda, SC?

What is the population of Saluda, SC? +

The population of Saluda, SC stands at 3,095 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Saluda, SC? +

In Saluda, the typical household earns $40,567 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Saluda? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Saluda; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Saluda, SC safe? +

Saluda has a total crime rate of 1866.4 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Saluda, SC? +

Saluda's median home value sits at $81,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Saluda? +

The average annual temperature in Saluda runs 62.2°F, 46.8 inches of precipitation, and 0.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.