Pickens 74 Excellent
Pickens Livability #33 ranked city in South Carolina#4,762 ranked city in the USARanks better than 83% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Pickens

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

What's it like Living in Pickens?

Located in the state of South Carolina, Pickens is a small-sized city with a population of 3,273 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 85% of Pickens residents are White, 11% Black and 2% Asian. An important consideration when living in Pickens is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 31 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Pickens could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Carolina if you know where to search. 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 Pickens, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, employment and more.

Pickens, SC receives 71 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #46 in South Carolina and #6,226 in the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, Pickens has received high marks for amenities (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A). There are some categories that Pickens scores poorly for, including: crime (F), education (D) and employment (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.

If you're living in Pickens, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Pickens an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Pickens has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Pickens. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Pickens are affordable. The median home price for Pickens homes is $212,684, which is 18.2% lower than the South Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Pickens, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 7.9% lower than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Pickens

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Compare Pickens, SC Livability

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      Pickens transportation information

      Statistic Pickens South Carolina National
      Average one way commute31min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work87.0%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.6%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home2.4%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Pickens, 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.