Johnston 64 Average
Johnston Livability #155 ranked city in South Carolina#14,556 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Johnston

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.

  • Schools Schools

    Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Johnston?

Johnston, South Carolina is a smaller city with a population of 2,607 people. With a total of 68%, the Black or African American racial group makes up the majority of the population in Johnston. The next most represented races are 32% White and 0% Asian. In Johnston, only 46% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Johnston, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Johnston 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. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Johnston and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Johnston to South Carolina and the national average.

With a livability score of 62 out of 100, Johnston is ranked #15,126 in the United States and #159 in South Carolina. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Johnston has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B-) and housing (B+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Johnston. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: amenities (F), education (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 Johnston 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.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Johnston is actually affordable. The median home price for Johnston homes is $160,123, which is 38.4% lower than the South Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Johnston, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 13.2% lower than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Johnston

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Johnston?

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Compare Johnston, SC Livability

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      Johnston transportation information

      Statistic Johnston South Carolina National
      Average one way commute24min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.7%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.5%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.7%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home2.1%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Johnston, SC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.