Located in the state of South Carolina, Elgin is a small city with a population of 2,942 inhabitants. Elgin is mostly populated by White (54%) and Black or African American (40%) ethnic groups. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Elgin offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 30 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Elgin could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Carolina if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Elgin, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety and more.
Elgin, SC receives 55 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #294 in South Carolina and #23,147 in the USA. Compared to the United States average, this city has a score which ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it is not considered a very livable city. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Elgin scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A) Unfortunately for Elgin, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F) and employment (F).
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Elgin market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Elgin is real estate affordability. The median home price for Elgin homes is $214,913, which is 17.4% lower than the South Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Elgin, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 18.4% lower than the South Carolina average.
| Statistic | Elgin | South Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 30min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.5% | 82.8% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 16.5% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 0.0% | 3.6% | 4.6% |
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