Living Off The Grid in South Carolina (My Complete Guide)
South Carolina is situated between North Carolina and Georgia on the east coast of the United States. South Carolina has a population of roughly 5 million people, and it is continuously increasing each year. Living off the grid in South Carolina is relatively popular in the state, and it’s easy to see why. Tourism is a significant element of South Carolina’s local economy, with approximately 25-30 million people visiting the state each year. While tourism is beneficial to businesses, it is not ideal for the typical person, as costs in tourist-heavy areas can be rather high.
General Statistics for Living Off the Grid in South Carolina
Living off the grid is permitted in South Carolina. The state is one of the best for it because of the low cost of living, housing, and property taxes. You’ll also be able to grow a variety of crops and collect rainwater without difficulty. However, poor road conditions, a failing educational system, and high prices in some places due to tourists may make living off the grid in South Carolina challenging.
There are a few issues in South Carolina. They relate to the relatively poor infrastructure and school system. Yet when compared to its neighboring states, South Carolina is somewhat ahead of them. The roads in some locations are in such bad state that they produce major traffic bottlenecks, owing to budget cuts for road maintenance. These budget cuts were made around a decade ago, and until it became a severe problem, most of the local leaders who made them have long since left office, leaving freshly elected officials to battle to keep the roads in good repair.
If you are from the south, you will have no trouble adjusting to the local environment. However, if you are from the north, you will struggle to acclimatize because the summers are so hot and humid that you will not even be able to sweat. This is why the majority of people in South Carolina have air conditioning. Although those living off the grid in South Carolina rarely do. Interested in neighboring states? Check out my Complete Guide to Off Grid Living in North Carolina.
What’s the Climate in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers and mild and humid winters. The average July temperature is around 90°F, and it is gradually rising each year as a result of global warming; the average winters temperature is around 60°F. Because of the extreme humidity on some days, you may feel as if you are in an oven, especially if you are in one of the larger cities, where all that concrete only reflects the heat.
What Are The Best Crops to Grow in South Carolina?
Because of the subtropical environment, you can cultivate a large amount of crops in South Carolina. You’ll be able to grow the state’s famous oats, hay, wheat, cotton, maize, and peaches here. You may cultivate many different sorts of fruits and vegetables in addition to field crops. The growing season is long, but the major issue you’ll confront is various varieties of bugs that eat or damage your crops. Check out my article on Off Grid Living in Georgia for more info!
What’s Freshwater Availability Like in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not have a freshwater shortage; it receives about 45 inches of rain per year and has numerous sources of water both above and below ground. Harvesting rainwater is also permitted, so if you don’t have access to a nearby stream or groundwater, harvesting rainfall and storing it in water tanks is your best alternative. Because there aren’t many large livestock farms in South Carolina, the groundwater is generally pure.
What Kind of Wildlife is in South Carolina?
White-tailed deer, coyote, gray fox, black bears, river otter, and manatees live in South Carolina. Bream, crappies, striped bass, trout, catfish, and smallmouth bass are found in the area rivers and lakes. Sharks, sheepshead, black drum, tarpon, and flounder reside along the coast. Freshwater and saltwater fishing require different licenses.
How to Generate Off Grid Power in South Carolina
Solar power: Given the length of the summers, generating electricity with solar panels is a great idea. You can apply for a tax credit of approximately 25%, although there is also a federal tax credit for renewable energy of approximately 30%, but I’m not sure if you can apply for both.
Wind power: If you wish to build a wind turbine in South Carolina, you should apply for either the federal tax credit or the federal investment credit, as both carry a 30% tax credit.
Are There Any Living Off the Grid Laws in South Carolina?
Living off the grid in South Carolina is completely legal. There are no restrictions forbidding you from gathering rainwater, which is essential for most individuals living off the grid. If you have children, you should consider homeschooling them because the education system in this state is fairly poor. Although you must tell the local authorities that you are homeschooling, South Carolina’s homeschooling rules are rather liberal.
What’s Road Access Like in South Carolina?
As I previously stated, the highways in South Carolina are poor, and while there are roads in most sections of the state, some of them appear to be abandoned. Snow isn’t common in South Carolina, so buying a snowmobile isn’t necessary; even if it does snow, it usually melts within a few days.
What’s the Price of Off the Grid Land in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s land prices are around 27% lower than the national average and 10% lower than those in North Carolina. There are several tourist sites, particularly near the seaside, and land and property prices in this area can be exceedingly high. Look at the southwestern and western regions of South Carolina for the cheapest land!
What’s the Property Tax in South Carolina?
South Carolina has one of the lowest property taxes in the US, at 0.57 percent, compared to 1.08 percent nationally. Although many people blame the poor condition of the roads on the cheap property tax, the truth is that the main issue is not a shortage of funds, but rather their allocation, as South Carolina earns a lot of money from tourism.
What’s the Cost of Living Off the Grid in South Carolina?
South Carolina is around 12% less expensive than the national average, and it is even less expensive than its neighboring state, North Carolina. Housing would cost roughly 27% less, transportation will cost 15% less, and groceries will cost around 5% less. On the other side, you may expect to pay about 3% extra for healthcare and utilities.
What’s the Job Market Like in South Carolina?
South Carolina has an extremely low unemployment rate, now at 2.6 percent, compared to a national average of 4 percent. South Carolina’s minimum wage is $7.25, which is the lowest in the country. Aerospace and defense, biotechnology, agriculture, tourism, and recycling are the largest industries in which most people work.
Check out my Guide on Off Grid Living in Rhode Island if you are interested in reading about the SMALLEST state in the country!
What’s the Crime Rate in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s crime rate is higher than the national average. Currently, there are 4.88 crimes per 1000 people, compared to 4 crimes per 1000 persons nationally. Salem, Plum Branch, Quinby, Daufuskie Island, and Salley are the safest places to be. Gaffney, Pickens, Myrtle Beach, Manning, and Cheraw are the areas with the highest crime rates. Normally, a state with such a high crime rate would have many cities with populations above 100,000, yet South Carolina only has three.
Is South Carolina Affected by Natural Disasters?
Natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, heat waves, and thunderstorms have occurred in South Carolina. Massive winter storms can occur on occasion, however they are uncommon. Heatwaves are the most prevalent natural calamity, as they occur virtually every year.
Is Living Off the Grid in South Carolina Doable?
Overall, living off the grid in South Carolina is a great idea. This is because the rates are reasonable as long as you avoid tourist areas. You may wish to invest in a 4×4 car due to the poor state of the roads. If you don’t like the local climate, living off the grid in South Carolina will be challenging, especially without air conditioning.
