Residential comparison · 13 facts
Aiken, SC vs Bluffton, SC
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Aiken needs about $98,000 in Bluffton to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Bluffton, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $72,000 in Aiken.
A few differences
- Bluffton is higher on median household income ($111,281 vs $76,746).
- Aiken is lower on cost of living index (87 vs 112).
- Aiken is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,122/mo vs $2,028/mo).
Aiken vs Bluffton · facet by facet
| Facet | Aiken, SC | Bluffton, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $286,800 | $492,100 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,122/mo | $2,028/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.39% | 3.39% |
| Sales tax | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Cost of living index | 87 | 112 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 98 |
| Utilities | $175/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $76,746 | $111,281 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Crime index | 65/100 | 65/100 |
| School rating | 5.0/10 | 5.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 220 days | 220 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Aiken, SC · Bluffton, SC
Questions & answers
- Is Aiken cheaper than Bluffton?
- Aiken has the lower day-to-day cost index (87 vs 112 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Bluffton equals $85,000 in Aiken?
- A household earning $85,000 in Aiken needs about $98,000 in Bluffton to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Bluffton lifestyle costs about $72,000 in Aiken.