Southern Hospitality, a Lively Collegiate Atmosphere and a Lower Cost of Living Bring Retirees to Stimulating Clemson, South Carolina 

Cost of Living:  Below the National Average

Many small towns can feel insular and not all that welcoming to newcomers, but thanks to the University, Clemson has a diverse population with newcomers arriving all the time.   The town retains a friendly small town ambiance but manages to combine that with lots of activities to keep many a retiree busy.  The first class Brooks Center for the Performing Arts brings all kinds of talent to town, including string quartets, jazz violinists and choral ensembles.  It also presents a full season of dance performances and theater productions.  The Clemson Art Center offers reasonably priced, high quality classes in fine art, writing and music to all ages and skill levels and exhibits local artists' works.  The Clemson Little Theater mounts productions throughout the year, and the South Carolina Botanic Gardens houses some historic structures and is a delightful spot in which to spend a leisurely afternoon.

For outdoor lovers, pretty Lake Hartwell, along which Clemson is nestled, is a 56,000-acre recreation oasis, giving retirees ample access to an outstanding boating, swimming and particularly fishing (bass) venue.   Lake Keowee, just to the west, also attracts water devotees.  

Of course, retirees in search of days full of watching sports will love Clemson.  Football in this part of the country is practically a religion, and each autumn Saturday afternoon, 80,000 crazed fans fill the football stadium, cheering on their beloved Clemson Tigers.  There are also college baseball, basketball and soccer games in need of screaming fans.  And the Walker Golf Course at Clemson University has 18 holes and 6,911 yards to enjoy.

Shopping in Clemson is not outstanding, but the attractive downtown, across from the University campus, has fun shops, cafes and restaurants.  For more diverse shopping and dining, the towns of Seneca (with a Lowe's, Home Depot and Wal-Mart), Easly, Greenville/Spartanburg, Pendleton, and Anderson are all within a short drive, and Atlanta, Georgia, with everything a person could desire, is about 125 miles to the southwest.  

 This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom in and out.

There is no hospital in town, but Oconee Medical Center in Seneca is just 10 miles away.  It has 120 beds and is accredited by the Joint Commission.  A teaching hospital, it is affiliated with the Medical University of South Carolina and is award-winning for pulmonary care and clinical excellence.  It also offers the Oconee Medical Center Lifeline, which provides 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year personal response service to seniors throughout the community (cost is minimal).   Both Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.   Larger hospitals are a little farther away in the towns of Anderson (20 miles) and Greenville (40 miles).   For military retirees, Anderson and Greenville also have VA clinics, but the nearest VA hospital is in Asheville, North Carolina, 65 miles away.

Those who are not keen on driving will be glad to know that Clemson Area Transit (CAT) operates a free bus service on campus and around town.  There is also a para-transit service.  Amtrak provides service to Greenville/Spartanburg, as well as New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte and New Orleans.  The closest domestic airport is in Greenville, and the closest international airport is in Charlotte, North Carolina, 110 miles away.

For being a small town that caters to students, Clemson has a good senior support system.  The Central/Clemson Senior Center offers a variety of programs, including meals and transportation.   The Central/Clemson Recreation Center is state of the art and provides classes and one on one instruction especially for seniors, as well as a therapy pool and semi-private use of other pools and facilities.   The Clemson Young at Heart Program offers educational activities, wellness programs, travel opportunities and social events, and the Pitkens County Library, which is actually in the town of Central, 5 miles away, delivers books and other materials to those who cannot leave their home (and it has public computers with Internet access).  Meals on Wheels is also active.  Churches are in abundance.

Living in a college town has numerous perks, and in Clemson this includes access to the excellent Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a membership organization sponsored by Clemson University.  As with all OLLIs around the country, Clemson's offers a diverse selection of stimulating classes to older adults.  Course titles include America: Land of Political Philosophers, The Joy of Shade Gardening and A Journey into Upcountry Folklore and Traditions.  Fun!   The annual membership is $15.  Adults age 55+ may also audit University classes at a reduced charge.

Residents say that the weather in the "Upcountry" is balmy, with the elevation (748 feet) mitigating the summer heat a bit.  Still, July and August bring temperatures into the low 90s, with humidity in the 90% range in the mornings (tapering off into the 70% vicinity in the afternoons).   Winters are mild with temperatures in the 30s, 40s and 50s.   Historically, the area has received four to five inches of precipitation per month, with very little snow. On the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Clemson comes in below the national average.  The sun shines 223 days of the year.  The air quality is below the national average, but the water quality is above the national average.  

Clemson does have some drawbacks.  For some retirees the overwhelming presence of the University and its youthful attendees may be too much.   There is a party scene, but for the most part, it seems to be confined primarily to the University campus and immediate surrounding neighborhoods (and the Party Registration Program, a collaboration between the city and Clemson University in which student parties register with the police, helps keep noise levels down).  Heavy traffic on football game days in the fall can be a headache.   The tornado risk is 50% higher than the national average.

And while these negatives are real, a big plus is Clemson's reputation as a friendly town.  It is a welcoming, safe, well-managed place that successfully combines genuine Southern hospitality with a stimulating collegiate atmosphere, not a small feat.  Retirees enjoy an active cultural community, top notch athletic events and a bounty of outdoor recreational opportunities.  For many, Clemson may provide the perfect retirement, indeed.

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