Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 7,015, settled in 1889.
The best of Clemson University’s subject grades are an A+ for walkability and the outdoors and an A for health. 100% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Clemson University, above both the South Carolina town median (23%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). No town in South Carolina scores higher than Clemson University on walkability. Clemson University's public schools beat 76% of South Carolina towns on state tests and graduation. Clemson University’s density of trails is 3.1 miles per square mile, against 0.3 in South Carolina’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. No town in South Carolina scores higher than Clemson University on the outdoors. Clemson University has 6 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Fort Hill and Hanover House. Clemson University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
Where Clemson University beats most towns.
The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1893 and 2 maps from 1951 on.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Carolina), ordered by how far Clemson University is from typical.
Clemson University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
How TownRatings grades towns →
Clemson University is unincorporated, so Pickens County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Clemson University.
The top destinations are Clemson (10%), Columbia (6%) and North Charleston (4%). Only one of the 169 South Carolina towns we compare has a lower mean commuting time than Clemson University. Since 2013, Clemson University has added 824 jobs, to 1,255 in 2023. Clemson University: 1.2% of working residents work locally.
| Clemson University | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 75% | 17% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 6.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Among adults 18 to 64 in Clemson University, 11% have no health insurance. Only one of the 169 South Carolina towns we compare has a lower share of adults who have obesity than Clemson University. 27% of adults in Clemson University report frequent mental distress; 8.6% report frequent physical distress. CDC measures, 32 in all: Clemson University beats South Carolina on 14 and trails on 10.
| Clemson University | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 1.5% | 15% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 18% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.6% | 15% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 23% | 23% |
| What stands out | Clemson University | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 0.8% | 8.6% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 1.5% | 13.9% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 18.9% | 80.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
FEMA puts 41% of Clemson University’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 29% to earthquakes. On expected storm and flood damage, Clemson University sits below 92% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Clemson University, the July high is 90°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
South Carolina Botanical Garden, at 159 acres with 2.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Trails run 6.6 miles in 8 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in Clemson University: 8, covering 193 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. South Carolina Botanical Garden | 2.9 mi | 159 |
| 2. President's Park | 0.6 mi | 6 |
| 3. Club Sports Fields | — | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Clemson University. Close and well known come first.
in town Stadium & arenaMemorial Stadium, Clemson
9 mi LakeLake Keowee
15 mi LakeLake Hartwell
32 mi MountainCurrahee Mountain
20 mi LakeLake Jocassee
28 mi Stadium & arenaBon Secours Wellness ArenaMemorial Stadium, Clemson: Caseyh at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Keowee: Inundated_38Oc1.jpg: Matthew T. Bradley from Berkshire County, Mass., USA deriva, CC BY 2.0 · Lake Hartwell: blahedo, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Currahee Mountain: Wikilackey (talk), Public domain · Lake Jocassee: Clemson3564, Public domain · Bon Secours Wellness Arena: Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas, CC BY 2.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Clemson University
College town 100 of every 100 Clemson University residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
14.9% of the town is conserved land, across 8 parks and preserves.
6 places in Clemson University on the National Register of Historic Places.
Public university in Clemson, South Carolina, US
Clemson University ([note a]) is a public land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university by enrollment in South Carolina. For the fall 2025 semester, the university enrolled a total of 24,060 undergraduate students and 5,485 graduate students, and the student/faculty ratio was 16:1. Clemson's 1,400-acre (570 ha) campus is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus now borders Lake Hartwell, which was formed by the dam completed in 1962. Clemson University consists of nine colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Art and Construction; Arts and Humanities; Behavioral, S…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
One town shares a border with Clemson University.
| Town | SC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University | — | — | — | — | A− | A |
| Clemson | #28 | B+ | C+ | C+ | A− | B+ |
Clemson University reports no FBI crime data of its own. Clemson University isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Clemson University with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Clemson University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
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