Spartanburg, SC
Census place 4568290 · pop 38,910
Nicknamed 'Hub City' because seven rail lines once radiated from it like the spokes of a wheel.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
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).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
23.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$51,964 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
14.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
53.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
49 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
4 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
32.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
84/100 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.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.76% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$203,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,352/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Spartanburg: Crime, 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 Spartanburg, SC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Spartanburg scores 41/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is income inequality. 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 Spartanburg, SC expensive to live in?
- Spartanburg has a median home value of $203,700 and typical rent around $1,352/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Spartanburg, SC?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.51) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Spartanburg, SC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,352/mo) — 78/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Nicknamed 'Hub City' because seven rail lines once radiated from it like the spokes of a wheel.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.