Clemson, SC vs Summerville, SC

Clemson is moderately more affordable than Summerville, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Clemson scores 92 compared to 103 for Summerville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Summerville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clemson is $972/month compared to $1,414/month in Summerville — a 31% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clemson has cheaper rent, Summerville actually has lower median home values ($295,700 vs $359,100).

Median household income in Clemson is $49,713 compared to $78,621 in Summerville (-36.8%). While Summerville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clemson spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 21.6% in Summerville.

Climate-wise, Summerville is notably warmer with an average of 66.5°F compared to 61.4°F in Clemson. Summerville receives more rainfall at 52.5" per year compared to 49" in Clemson.