Darlington, SC vs Graniteville, SC

Darlington, SC and Graniteville, SC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.5% difference in their overall index. Darlington scores 69 while Graniteville scores 70 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Darlington is $801/month compared to $960/month in Graniteville — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Darlington has cheaper rent, Graniteville actually has lower median home values ($103,900 vs $163,000).

Median household income in Darlington is $31,240 compared to $29,495 in Graniteville (+5.9%). Darlington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Darlington spend roughly 30.8% of their income on rent, less than the 39.1% in Graniteville. The Darlington ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.7°F vs 67.1°F). Darlington receives more rainfall at 45.3" per year compared to 44.8" in Graniteville.