| Index | Five Forks | South Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 125 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 189 | 81 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 98 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Five Forks? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Five Forks stands at 125, making it 25% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Five Forks may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Five Forks falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Five Forks cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 88.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Five Forks an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Five Forks is 94.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 76.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Five Forks has a median household income of $165,408, which is 103.4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Five Forks, the housing index comes in at 88.9% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Five Forks, the utilities index stands at 0.4% lower than the national average.
The Five Forks cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $187,527 | $15,627 | $4,375 | $5,626 |
| Renters | $67,145 | $5,595 | $1,567 | $2,015 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| South Carolina | 6% | 9% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| South Carolina | 0% | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ware Place, SC | 118 | 81 | 19.2% |
| Saxon, SC | 3,837 | 81 | 19.2% |
| Startex, SC | 569 | 81 | 19.3% |
| Enoree, SC | 577 | 82 | 18.4% |
| Southern Shops, SC | 4,104 | 83 | 17.2% |
| Five Forks, SC | 20,122 | 125 | 24.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON | 20,111 | n/a | |
| Horizon City, TX | 20,136 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Franconia, VA | 20,097 | 140 | 39.7% |
| Angleton, TX | 20,095 | 93 | 6.6% |
| Willmar, MN | 20,156 | 93 | 6.7% |
| Five Forks, SC | 20,122 | 125 | 24.9% |