CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

35.04° N · 81.01° W · GEOID 4571417

Tega Cay

York County, South Carolina · part of the Charlotte, NC metro

South CarolinaTega Cay, SCTega CayTega Cay

The short answer

Tega Cay is home to 13,615 people. Median household income is $142,000 a year and median rent is $1,408 a month, 11.9% 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 $529,200, about 3.7x annual median household income.

Tega Cay is defined by its growth. Household income growth is 1.6% a year, against 5.9% a year in its closest peers. Also notable: Home values rose 9.8% a year between the 2019 and 2024 surveys while incomes rose 1.6%, a wider gap than in 93% of places its size.

90OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Exceptional

Tega Cay scores better than 90% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 3rd of 101 in South Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%75
Economy 20%79
Safety 20%81
Amenities 15%40
Education 10%93
Commute 10%20
Growth 5%48
Median gross rent
$1,408
3% above the median place
Median household income
$142,000
77% above the median place
Median home value
$529,200
66% above the median place
Unemployment
4.2%
15% 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 Tega Cay

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 11.9% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 98% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 101 South Carolina places we track.
  • HousingOwning with a mortgage costs about $1,187 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 91% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-highest of 100 South Carolina places we track.
01

Moving to Tega Cay

York County gains about 9.6 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in15,694
Moved out13,317
Net+2,377

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within South Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within South CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$84K
Leavers$70K

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

Who moves here
7.4% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 3.8% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into York County report $84,000 a year in income on average; those leaving, $70,100, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$56,300 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,408 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,595 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $529,200.
Getting to work
31 minutes each way on average; 32.5% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Lucas, TX matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
3.8%
94% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
7.4%
29% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
9.6
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year17.4%29% above
Moved from another state13.8%94% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure9.6above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$84,01819% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$70,0540% below
02

What it costs to live here

After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $128,600 a year, more than in 91% of the 1,884 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the highest of 89 South Carolina places we track.

Tega Cay11.9%
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
$56,320
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
11.9%
42% below the median place
Home price to income
3.7x
2% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
12%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$128,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Tega Cay, $1,408 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.3 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Tega Cay, but easier on the budget

Places that match Tega Cay 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
Lucas, TX889.6% vs 11.9%$71,500Compare
Lake Norman of Iredell, NC829.2% vs 11.9%$33,400Compare
Parkville, MO768.1% vs 11.9%$39,200Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Tega Cay.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Tega Cay? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
25.6%
50% below the median place
Median year built1
2006
1% above the median place
Homeownership1
84.3%
27% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,4083% above
Rent to income111.9%42% below
Property tax rate10.6%33% below
Home price to income13.7x2% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.34% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,78511% above
HUD area median income4County figure$117,4009% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,2211% below
Median home value1$529,20066% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.5%20% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure63.1%23% above
Homeownership184.3%27% above
Renters paying 30%+125.6%50% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,59539% above
Vacant homes1County figure5.7%19% below
Median year built120061% above
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 32.5%, 161% above the median place.

Works from home1
32.5%
161% above the median place
Median household income1
$142,000
77% above the median place
Income per person1
$66,471
66% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$142,00077% above
Income per person1$66,47166% above
Unemployment1County figure4.2%15% below
Average annual pay6County figure$63,0025% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.2%14% below
Jobs6County figure106,23629% below
Poverty rate1County figure8.4%22% below
Mean commute131 min23% above
Works from home132.5%161% above
Commutes by transit1County figure0.3%65% below
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 98.3%, 7% above the median place.

High school or higher1
98.3%
7% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
67.1%
109% above the median place
Population change since 20207
13.1%
above the median place (median 1.1%)

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad16.8% +90%
Household size2.8 +10%
Median age41.0 +5%
Homes with broadband91.5% −1%
No health insurance6.0% −6%
All 9 people measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population113,6153234th largest
Population change since 2020713.1%above (median 1.1%)
Median age141.05% above
Bachelor's or higher167.1%109% above
High school or higher198.3%7% above
Household size12.810% above
Born abroad116.8%90% above
No health insurance16.0%6% below
Homes with broadband191.5%1% below
05

Life in Tega Cay

The nearest National Park Service site is Kings Mountain National Military Park, about 23 miles away.

64 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents19.1 +88%
Playgrounds per 10k21.3 2.3×
Grocery stores per 10k2.9 +39%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k5.1 −54%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails4 km 2.1×
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

  • Kings Mountain National Military Park 23 miles
  • Cowpens National Battlefield 46 miles
  • Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site 83 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars17.9 −14%
Shops25.3 −17%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.9 −5%
Doctors' offices and clinics17.1 −15%
Child care centers2.2 −4%

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

Public schools14
3
67% below the median place
Students per teacher14
13.4
13% below the median place
Public school students14
2,435
50% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14367% below
Public school students142,43550% below
Students per teacher1413.413% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure17.914% below
Shops per 10k9County figure25.317% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure3.95% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure17.115% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure2.24% below
Parks per 10k1019.188% above
Playgrounds per 10k1021.3126% above
Grocery stores per 10k102.939% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k105.154% below
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails104.2110% above
Transit stops per sq mi100.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1122.527% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1120% above
National Register listings12County figure64392% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 75, 61% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
75
61% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
607
50% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Tornado risk16
96.9
19% above the median place
July average high15
90°F
4% above the median place
Heat wave risk16
75.4
16% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureTega CayAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure90°F4% above
January average low15County figure31°F22% above
Average temperature15County figure61°F11% above
Annual precipitation15County figure44.0 in0% above
Natural hazard risk16County figure88.74% below
Hurricane risk16County figure75.57% above
Tornado risk16County figure96.919% above
Wildfire risk16County figure63.74% above
Heat wave risk16County figure75.416% below
Median air quality index17County figure430% above
Good air days17County figure76.5%12% above
08

Tega Cay in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 12% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 12% 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, Tega Cay does better than 73% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 70%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,408/mo (2024)$1,750/mo$1,440 to $2,130/mo+3.7%
Median household income$142,000 (2024)$177,500$150,000 to $210,000+3.8%
Median home value$529,200 (2024)$770,000$559,000 to $1,060,000+6.4%
Population14,457 (2025)15,46014,830 to 16,110+1.3%

The median home would be worth 4.3 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.7 now.

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

09

Places like Tega Cay

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

PlaceRentIncome
Glen Ellyn, IL$1,433$140,938Compare
Vestavia Hills, AL$1,515$134,369Compare
Los Alamos, NM$1,359$141,018Compare
White Rock, NM$1,356$156,639Compare
White Rock, NMLos Alamos, NMVestavia Hills, ALGlen Ellyn, ILTega Cay, SCTega CayGlen EllynVestavia HillsLos AlamosWhite RockTega CayGlen EllynVestavia HillsLos AlamosWhite Rock

Places built like Tega Cay

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 Tega Cay performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Tega Cay, SC11.9%1.6%/yr13.1%
Trinity, FL25.9%7.4%/yrn/aCompare
Fairwood, MD22.7%2.2%/yrn/aCompare
Westphalia, MD16.0%5.9%/yrn/aCompare
Lansdowne, VA16.8%5.2%/yrn/aCompare
Brock Hall, MD20.3%6.3%/yrn/aCompare
Weddington, NC12.1%6.9%/yr10.2%Compare

Common questions

Is Tega Cay a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 90 out of 100, better than 90% of the places we rate and 3rd of 101 in South Carolina. The median rent takes 11.9% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 98% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-lowest of 101 South Carolina places we track. Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,187 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 91% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-highest of 100 South Carolina places we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 95 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Tega Cay expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 11.9% 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 $529,200.

What salary do you need to live in Tega Cay?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $56,320 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Tega Cay safe?

There were 75 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Tega Cay?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Glen Ellyn, IL, Vestavia Hills, AL, Los Alamos, NM and White Rock, NM.

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. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. 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.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 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
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. 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 Tega Cay with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Tega Cay itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/tega-cay-south-carolina

Citytistics. “Tega Cay, South Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/tega-cay-south-carolina/

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