Clemson: Economy & Jobs
$49,520 is the median household income in Clemson (1.2× below Pickens County median $61,064; 1.4× below South Carolina median $69,324), with homes at a median value of $398,400. The surrounding county supports 72,695 jobs (avg $51,737).
- $66,518 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs South Carolina $75,428).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $49,520 — below the South Carolina median ($66,299). Poverty rate 36.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 58% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 8.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | very expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 23.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 57.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 36.0% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $95,400 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $6,345,781 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $66,518 (vs South Carolina $75,428) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $56,648 |
| Median Household Income | $49,520 (vs South Carolina $66,299) |
| Poverty Rate | 36.0% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $49,520 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 10% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 18.90 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.8% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 72,695 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $3,761,007,218 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $51,737 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% (vs South Carolina 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 467 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 178 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 40.0% |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Cattle, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 4,087 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 67,424 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,151,892 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 27 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 29 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 23 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 110 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 58 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 13 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 172 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 162 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 16 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 20 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (7)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | INGLES MARKETS 53 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 12 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CLEMSON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $1,389,492,565 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,820.67 (vs South Carolina $7,873) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 203,718 people (vs South Carolina 24,505) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 69.7% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 6.1% |
| Pct Walked | 9.8% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 24.8 years (vs South Carolina 36.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 21.8% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12