Places › South Carolina › Rock Hill

Living in Rock Hill, SC

Small city in South Carolina

Rock Hill is a small city in South Carolina, home to about 75,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Rock Hill a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low taxes: about $1,296 state income tax per resident, 0.54% property tax
  • Easy flying: CLT is 19 mi away
  • Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $318k and rents for $2,080 a month

👎 Cons

  • Few dog parks: 1 within 9 mi
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Rock Hill ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
75,000
1.5 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
56°F / 89°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$318k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,080/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
97
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,296
State income tax per resident · 0.54% property tax
Safety
1.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
5
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
35%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
CLT
19 mi away

Living in Rock Hill: common questions

What is the cost of living in Rock Hill?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $318k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,080 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 97, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Rock Hill?

South Carolina collects about $1,296 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.54% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Rock Hill safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.7× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Rock Hill?

Rock Hill has mild winters: winter days average around 56°F and summer days around 89°F.

Does Rock Hill get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.76 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Rock Hill?

The nearest major airport is CLT, about 19 mi away.

How Rock Hill scores

Each bar compares Rock Hill with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Mild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Rock Hill right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.