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Compare towns

Saluda vs McColl

135 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+79% in Saluda) and jobs per worker (2.6× in Saluda).

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Saluda, SCHomes around $167KSouth Carolina · 3,055 people
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McColl, SCOne of the healthiest townsSouth Carolina · 2,200 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

SaludaHomes around $167K
Housing$167K typical home45% below the SC typical home Health91% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 63%of SC districts All about Saluda →
McCollOne of the healthiest towns
Health98% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$136K typical home55% below the SC typical home SchoolsBetter than 10%of SC districts All about McColl →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Rent+79%
Rent runs higher in Saluda
Saluda $816McColl $456
Jobs per worker2.6×
Saluda is more of a job hub
Saluda 0.96McColl 0.37
Street grid2×
McColl has the more walkable street grid
McColl 122Saluda 60.0
Growth since 2010+7.6 pts
McColl has grown faster since 2010
McColl -4.8%Saluda -12.4%
Age 65++8 pts
McColl has more people 65 and up
McColl 18.1%Saluda 10.1%
Bachelor’s degree++11.1 pts
More adults in Saluda have a degree
Saluda 14.1%McColl 3%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C+SaludaSafer than 40% of U.S. towns –McCollNot graded
Schools
BSaludaBetter than 63% of districts in the state DMcCollBetter than 10% of districts in the state
Health
DSaludaHealthier than 9% of U.S. towns D−McCollHealthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Saluda$950/mo
Typical home $167K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.49% · or rent about $816/mo · Housing →
McColl$800/mo
Typical home $136K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $456/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Saluda and McColl.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
SaludaMcColl
Snow a year0″1″
January low32°F33°F
July high93°F93°F
Growing season (days)218d239d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)59th67th
Outdoors & history
SaludaMcColl
National Register places2—
Archive photos618
Famous people born here71
Community
SaludaMcColl
Library hours a week40 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

135 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SaludaSCMcCollSC
Saluda ↔ McColl135 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

SaludaMcColl
People
Population 3,055Highest 2,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.4%Lowest SC: +10.7% -4.8%Highest SC: +10.7%
Median age 30.9±5.3Highest 23% below SC 28.2±7.3Lowest 30% below SC
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 33.4%±6.7Lowest SC: 21.4% 35.6%±5.9Highest SC: 21.4%
McColl and Saluda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.1%±2.8Lowest SC: 18.9% 18.1%±3.3Highest SC: 18.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14.1%Highest SC: 32.1% 3%Lowest SC: 32.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±1.5Highest SC: 5.7% 0.6%±1.3Lowest SC: 5.7%
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,506±$11kHighest 39% below SC $26,638±$7kLowest 62% below SC
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $77,700±$36kHighest 70% below SC $56,300±$11kLowest 78% below SC
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $816±$121Highest 31% below SC $456±$113Lowest 61% below SC
Property taxmedian, yearly $384Lowest 69% below SC $410Highest 67% below SC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 60%±20.4Highest SC: 52.1% 47.6%±41.1Lowest SC: 52.1%
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 43.9%Highest SC: 14.1% 41.9%Lowest SC: 14.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 49%Highest SC: 71.9% 45.5%Lowest SC: 71.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1987Highest 5 yrs older than SC 1977Lowest 15 yrs older than SC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 19% below SC 26 minHighest about the SC average
Work from home 2.3%±2.6Highest SC: 11.5% 2.2%±3.1Lowest SC: 11.5%
Saluda and McColl are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.4%Highest 4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.8 miHighest 22.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.96Highest 0.37Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Greenwood (4%)Laurinburg (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in McCollFew work in Saluda
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 60.0Lowest 122Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #105 of 141 in SC—
School district Saluda 01Marlboro 01
High school in town None in townNone in town
South Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Saluda neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Saluda’s Town Square.

McColl neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to McColl’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Saluda

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Estill1,886 people · $94K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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