Relocation profile · Federal data
Florence, SC
LiveAbility 70/100 places Florence #6 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 86.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,098
- 2BR rent / mo
- $60,956
- Median salary
- 70
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Florence ranks #6 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (70/100), with its strongest marks in climate and safety.
- #6
- of 387 US metros · Exceptional
- 5,478,831
- metro-area population
- 439
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,215
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (11/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Florence ranks #6 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 86.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,098/mo, median salary $60,956; LiveAbility Score 70/100, strongest in climate and safety.
Signature: LiveAbility 70/100 places Florence #6 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 86.8 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,098/mo.
LiveAbility 70/100 puts Florence in the top third (#6 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Florence area is 82,440.
Florence vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
70 Top 2% higher than 98% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Florence housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Florence MSA; housing RPP 52.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,098/mo.
Florence wages and employment
Florence posts 82,440 total employment with median salary $60,956 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $81,170 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,590 |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,650 |
| Cashiers | $26,420 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,360 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Florence area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Florence area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Florence's composite Life Score is 57.8/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Florence ranks #6 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 70/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Florence - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Climate
Climate
98 /100
- Safety
Safety
97 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
92 /100
- Housing
Housing
82 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
78 /100
- Schools
Schools
74 /100
- Air quality 34
Air quality
34 /100
- Job market 11
Job market
11 /100
What this shows Florence's strongest dimensions are climate and safety; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 11/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Florence to
Metros near Florence on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Florence on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Florence cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Florence wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Florence?
Florence runs a $60,956 median salary at a 86.8 cost index, ranking #6 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Florence's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Florence head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Florence
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.