— Why Cherokee County

More for
Every Dollar.

Cherokee County scores 72.5 on the national cost-of-living index — nearly 28% below the U.S. average. Your employees live better and your business operates leaner.

72.5
Cost of Living Index

vs. 100 U.S. average

$143,800
Median Home Price

vs. $338,100 nationally

31.3
Housing Index Score

Among cheapest in the nation

27.5%
Below National Average

Overall cost of living

Cost of Living Index

Cherokee County vs. South Carolina vs. the U.S.

Based on the Sperling Best Places index where 100 = U.S. average. Lower is more affordable.

72.5
Cherokee County

Overall Index

89.3
South Carolina

Overall Index

100
U.S Average

Overall Index

Category Cherokee Co. South Carolina U.S. Avg
Overall 72.5 89.3 100
Housing 31.3 76.6 100
Grocery 92.7 95.8 100
Transportation 71.4 86.8 100
Miscellaneous 69.8 76.3 100
Utilities 103.2 103.9 100
Health 113 102.7 100

*Stats provided by Sperling Best Places. Index where 100 = U.S. average.

— Housing

Home Ownership is Actually Attainable Here

With a median home price of just $143,800 — less than half the national median of $338,100 — Cherokee County is one of the most affordable places to own a home in the entire Southeast. A housing index of 31.3 puts us in a class of our own.

For employers, this is a powerful recruitment and retention advantage. For executives and team members relocating from higher-cost markets, Cherokee County is a revelation.

Key Advantage

A $338,100 home in a typical U.S. city costs just $143,800 in Cherokee County — putting homeownership within reach for a much broader range of your workforce.

Housing Comparison

Median Home Cost — Cherokee County
$143,800
Median Home Cost — Cherokee County
$259,900
Median Home Cost — U.S.
$338,100
Housing Index — Cherokee County
31.3
Housing Index — South Carolina
76.6
Why It Matters for Your Business

Low Cost of Living

is a business advantage

When your employees can afford to live well, they stay longer, perform better, and recruit their networks. Cherokee County’s affordability is a strategic tool — not just a lifestyle perk.

Lower housing costs mean more disposable income for your employees — a powerful recruiting tool.
Business owners and executives enjoy a dramatically lower cost of living than comparable Southeast metros.
Business owners and executives enjoy a dramatically lower cost of living than comparable Southeast metros.
Lower overall costs support employee retention and satisfaction across all income levels.
Affordable living attracts talent from higher-cost metros seeking a better quality of life.