CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

33.98° N · 81.15° W · GEOID 4551720

Oak Grove

Lexington County, South Carolina · part of the Columbia, SC metro

South CarolinaOak Grove, SCOak GroveOak Grove

The short answer

Oak Grove is home to 12,256 people. Median household income is $74,554 a year and median rent is $1,045 a month, 16.8% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $210,300, about 2.8x annual median household income.

The story in Oak Grove is how fast things are changing. Rent took 23.2% of the median income in the 2019 survey and 16.8% in 2024. In the 25 places most like it the share rose 1.5 points on average, so affordability held up better here. Also notable: Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 91 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

72OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Above average

Oak Grove scores better than 72% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 13th of 101 in South Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%81
Economy 20%71
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%8
Education 10%51
Commute 10%71
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,045
23% below the median place
Median household income
$74,554
7% below the median place
Median home value
$210,300
34% below the median place
Unemployment
2.0%
59% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Oak Grove

  • Work and commutingUnemployment averaged 2% over the survey period, lower than in 96% of the 2,058 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 72 South Carolina places we track.
01

Moving to Oak Grove

Lexington County gains about 11.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in17,570
Moved out14,615
Net+2,955

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Richland County, SC5,6494,779+870
Aiken County, SC380445−65
Saluda County, SC208271−63

Within South Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within South CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$65K
Leavers$63K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Lexington County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
3.1% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.0% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Lexington County report $65,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $62,900.
Income you would need
$41,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,045 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,188 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $210,300.
Getting to work
22 minutes each way on average; 11.8% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Clover, SC matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
3.1%
45% below the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
11.9
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out7
$62,889
11% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year13.1%45% below
Moved from another state1County figure2.0%2% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure11.9above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$65,1088% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$62,88911% below
02

What it costs to live here

Homeowners pay a median of about 0.5% of home value a year in property tax, less than in 93% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Oak Grove16.8%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$41,800
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.8%
18% below the median place
Home price to income
2.8x
26% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
17%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$64,700
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Oak Grove, $1,045 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.6 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Oak Grove, but easier on the budget

Places that match Oak Grove on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Clover, SC9411.8% vs 16.8%$13,200Compare
Jackson, MO9414.0% vs 16.8%$7,700Compare
Newcastle, OK9314.2% vs 16.8%$21,200Compare
Waterloo, IL9310.8% vs 16.8%$25,300Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Oak Grove.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Oak Grove? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax paid (median)1
$974
70% below the median place
Property tax rate1
0.5%
49% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,188
37% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,04523% below
Rent to income116.8%18% below
Property tax rate10.5%49% below
Home price to income12.8x26% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure93.77% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,22624% below
HUD area median income4County figure$92,40014% below
Property tax paid (median)1$97470% below
Median home value1$210,30034% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.7%17% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure59.8%16% above
Homeownership181.0%22% above
Renters paying 30%+154.5%8% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,18837% below
Vacant homes18.5%20% above
Median year built119911% above
03

Work and pay

Compared with the 12 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Gonzalez, FL, Winterville, NC and Irmo, SC), unemployment here is lower: 2% against a typical 4.3%.

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Unemployment1
2.0%
59% below the median place
Mean commute1
22 min
13% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$35,527 −11%
Poverty rate12.6% +17%
Median household income$74,554 −7%
Works from home11.8% −5%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$74,5547% below
Income per person1$35,52711% below
Unemployment12.0%59% below
Average annual pay6County figure$58,20812% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.9%5% above
Jobs6County figure134,27111% below
Poverty rate112.6%17% above
Mean commute122 min13% below
Works from home111.8%5% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 11.1%, 73% above the median place.

No health insurance1
11.1%
73% above the median place
Median age1
37.0
5% below the median place
Homes with broadband1
94.1%
2% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size2.4 −4%
Born abroad7.2% −18%
High school or higher91.1% −1%
Bachelor's or higher32.6% +2%
All 8 people measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population112,2563529th largest
Median age137.05% below
Bachelor's or higher132.6%2% above
High school or higher191.1%1% below
Household size12.44% below
Born abroad17.2%18% below
No health insurance111.1%73% above
Homes with broadband194.1%2% above
05

Life in Oak Grove

The nearest National Park Service site is Congaree National Park, about 25 miles away.

63 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents3.3 −68%
Playgrounds per 10k9.8 +4%
Grocery stores per 10k0.8 −61%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k2.5 −78%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Congaree National Park 25 miles
  • Ninety Six National Historic Site 52 miles
  • Kings Mountain National Military Park 81 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.0 −4%
Shops39.5 +30%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.3 −20%
Doctors' offices and clinics17.8 −12%
Child care centers1.9 −17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
24.8
19% below the median place
Shops per 10k8
39.5
30% above the median place
Public school students12
64,555
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure76above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure64,555above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure14.18% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.04% below
Shops per 10k8County figure39.530% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.320% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure17.812% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.917% below
Parks per 10k93.368% below
Playgrounds per 10k99.84% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.861% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k92.578% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1024.819% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1020% above
National Register listings11County figure63385% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

July average high is 92°F, 6% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Oak Grove. Larger places are fetched first.

July average high13
92°F
6% above the median place
Tornado risk14
97.7
20% above the median place
Average temperature13
64°F
16% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureOak GroveAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure92°F6% above
January average low13County figure34°F35% above
Average temperature13County figure64°F16% above
Annual precipitation13County figure46.5 in6% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure90.92% below
Hurricane risk14County figure92.130% above
Tornado risk14County figure97.720% above
Wildfire risk14County figure75.323% above
Heat wave risk14County figure92.32% above
Median air quality index15Metro figure479% above
Good air days15Metro figure58.1%15% below
08

Oak Grove in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 16% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 17% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Oak Grove does better than 81% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 76%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,045/mo (2024)$1,320/mo$1,080 to $1,600/mo+3.9%
Median household income$74,554 (2024)$96,000$81,000 to $113,500+4.3%
Median home value$210,300 (2024)$308,000$223,000 to $424,000+6.5%

The median home would be worth 3.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.8 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Oak Grove

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Glens Falls, NY$1,077$67,788Compare
Cedar Rapids, IA$967$70,424Compare
White Oak, OH$1,091$70,341Compare
Erlanger, KY$970$75,840Compare
Erlanger, KYWhite Oak, OHCedar Rapids, IAGlens Falls, NYOak Grove, SCOak GroveGlens FallsCedar RapidsWhite OakErlangerOak GroveGlens FallsCedar RapidsWhite OakErlanger

Places built like Oak Grove

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Oak Grove performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Oak Grove, SC16.8%8.6%/yrn/a
Gonzalez, FL18.3%1.2%/yrn/aCompare
Winterville, NC22.1%2.2%/yr4.9%Compare
Irmo, SC22.0%4.0%/yr6.4%Compare
Lugoff, SC15.8%5.9%/yrn/aCompare
Riviera Beach, MD21.0%3.2%/yrn/aCompare
Fountain Inn, SC19.3%1.6%/yr41.4%Compare

Common questions

Is Oak Grove a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 72 out of 100, better than 72% of the places we rate and 13th of 101 in South Carolina. Unemployment averaged 2% over the survey period, lower than in 96% of the 2,058 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 72 South Carolina places we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 80 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Oak Grove expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $210,300.

What salary do you need to live in Oak Grove?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $41,800 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Oak Grove?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Glens Falls, NY, Cedar Rapids, IA, White Oak, OH and Erlanger, KY.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Oak Grove with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Oak Grove itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/oak-grove-south-carolina

Citytistics. “Oak Grove, South Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/oak-grove-south-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.