Summerville 63 Average
Summerville Livability #167 ranked city in South Carolina#15,058 ranked city in the USARanks better than 48% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Summerville

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Schools Schools

    The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Through surveys and polls, AreaVibes obtained feedback from local residents in the area, and the results did not indicate a favorable outlook on factors like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in Summerville?

Summerville, South Carolina is a mid-sized city with a population of 55,185 residents. At 72%, the majority of the Summerville population is White; this is followed by 20% Black and 2% Asian. An important consideration when living in Summerville 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 30 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Summerville can be a great experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of South Carolina, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Summerville, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, commute, education, housing and more.

Summerville has a livability score of 61/100 and is ranked #181 in South Carolina and #16,830 in the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, Summerville has been rewarded with high marks for cost of living (B), education (B+) and housing (A+). The bad news for Summerville, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

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, Summerville 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 Summerville. 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 Summerville are affordable. The median home price for Summerville homes is $378,128, which is 45.4% higher than the South Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Summerville, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 10.5% higher than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Summerville

See all the best places to live around Summerville

How Do You Rate The Livability In Summerville?

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Compare Summerville, SC Livability

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      Summerville transportation information

      Statistic Summerville South Carolina National
      Average one way commute30min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work86.1%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.9%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.5%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home4.8%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Summerville, 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.