Living in Clemson, SC

Explore Clemson and see how it fits the life you want to build.

18,072 Population Anderson & Pickens Counties Counties City Place Type South Carolina State
Overall Match6.2 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Clemson at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population18,072
Median Household Income$49,520
Median Home Value$398,400
Median Gross Rent$1,007
Median Age24.8
Average Household Size2.3
Unemployment4.5%
Work From Home9.8%
Homeownership34.3%
Housing Vacancy10.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Clemson is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Clemson Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Clemson →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Clemson and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value2.2 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment3.9 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability2.6 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly3.2 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength3.6 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Clemson

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$398,400
Median Gross Rent$1,007
Homeownership34.3%
Housing Vacancy10.0%
Housing Value4.4/10
Housing Stability5.2/10

Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. Renters make up a substantial share of the local housing market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Clemson, SC

Median Household Income$49,520
Unemployment4.5%
Work From Home9.8%
Employment7.8/10
Remote Work Friendly6.4/10
Income Strength7.2/10

The reported unemployment rate is in a middle range. A meaningful share of employed residents work from home.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Clemson and how households are structured

Population18,072
Median Age24.8
Average Household Size2.3

Clemson is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Clemson

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Clemson point to hot summers, cool winters, substantial annual rainfall and occasional snowfall.

Average Summer High91.0°F
Average Winter Low32.5°F
Annual Rainfall52.4 in.
Annual Snowfall2.2 in.

Seasonal Life in Clemson

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer heat is a meaningful part of daily life. During a trial stay, pay attention to afternoon comfort, cooling use, vehicle heat and how much outdoor activity shifts toward mornings and evenings.

Fall

Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.

Winter

Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

County Intelligence

Clemson & Its Counties

Data Pending Foreclosure Activity

Clemson spans Anderson and Pickens counties.

Living in a community that crosses county lines can make location within Clemson especially important. Property taxes, housing characteristics, public services and other county-level factors may vary depending on which part of the community you call home.

Current NarrowTheList data for Clemson shows a population of about 18,072. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship Anderson County and Pickens County
How NarrowTheList uses it

NarrowTheList connects Clemson with all 2 of its counties rather than assigning the community to only one. As additional county data becomes available, those differences can be compared alongside city-level information to help identify which parts of the area may better fit your priorities.

For someone considering a move to Clemson, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.