Orangeburg, SC

Census place 4553080 · pop 13,253

F34/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in SC
📍 South Carolina ranks #21 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,283/mo · top 17%
🚽 Poverty32.6% · bottom 2%
Taxes
0.70% property · US 0.99%7.49% sales · US 7.00%up to 6.00% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poverty rate32.6%2

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

32.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$38,6352

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$38,635 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access79.6%3

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

79.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.8%5

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.517

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Homeownership44.6%8

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

44.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Adult obesity41.2%13

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health19.6%15

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Physical inactivity32.5%16

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

32.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Uninsured adults14.3%20

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

14.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult smoking15.1%32

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher26.3%41

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

26.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10043

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

92/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time24 min47

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Population growth (5yr)+3.0%51

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden0.70%73

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.70% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$163,50081

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$163,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,283/mo83

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,283/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Not measured for Orangeburg: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Orangeburg, SC a good place to live?
By the numbers, Orangeburg scores 34/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is poverty rate. South Carolina overall ranks #21 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Orangeburg, SC expensive to live in?
Orangeburg has a median home value of $163,500 and typical rent around $1,283/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Orangeburg, SC?
Its weakest measured area is poverty rate (32.6%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Orangeburg, SC best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,283/mo) — 83/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.