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Aerial view of Clemson University campus and surrounding area.
Clemson Careers

Living in Upstate SC

Explore Clemson and the Surrounding Communities

Clemson University is located at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina. We are surrounded by many towns and cities within reasonable commute to the University, allowing faculty and staff a variety of options in regards to housing. Please find a helpful Visitor's Guide and information about some of the surrounding communities below.

Visitor's Guide (PDF)
People visiting vendors in downtown Clemson, SC during the 2022 Welcome Back Festival.

Clemson, SC

City of ClemsonSchoolsExplore the Area

Clemson is located in Pickens and Anderson counties. The city, in large part, revolves around the presence of the University. In 2015, the Princeton Review named Clemson as #1 in the US for “town-and-gown” relations with its University. There are approximately 16,649 people living in Clemson. Clemson borders Lake Hartwell, one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular recreation lakes.

Greenville, SC

City of GreenvilleSchoolsExplore the Area

Greenville is one of the largest cities in the State of South Carolina, and is home to over 70,000 residents. The city serves as the “hub” of the Upstate region of SC. It has recently been ranked by CNN as one of the “Top 10 fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.” and by Forbes as the “13th Best City for Young Professionals”. Additionally, it received the number 3 spot by Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best Small Cities in the U.S.”. The beautiful Reedy River runs directly through the city, serving as a focal point for the well-known Falls Park. Greenville is approximately 30 minutes away from Clemson University.

Anderson, SC

City of AndersonSchoolsExplore the Area

Anderson is located approximately 25 minutes away from Clemson University, right off of Interstate 85. The city is home to approximately 29,000 residents and borders Lake Hartwell, one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular recreation lakes.

Central, SC

Town of CentralSchoolsExplore the Area

Central is located in Pickens County and is home to approximately 3,000 permanent residents. It is also home to Southern Wesleyan University and is only 10 minutes driving distance to Clemson University.

Pendleton, SC

Town of PendletonSchoolsExplore the Area

Pendleton is located approximately 5 minutes from the heart of Clemson University. The small town is located in Anderson County, and is home to approximately 3,500 people.

Seneca, SC

Oconee CountySchoolsExplore the Area

Seneca is a small town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Oconee County. It is home to approximately 8,900 residents and is only 10 minutes away from Clemson University. While beautiful Lake Keowee is located in the heart of Seneca, two other lakes are nearby (Lake Hartwell & Lake Jocassee).

Easley, SC

City of EasleySchoolsExplore the Area

Easley is a city located in Pickens County. It serves as a border city to Greenville if you are driving from the Clemson University area. Located only 20 minutes away from the University, Easley is home to over 23,000 residents.

Office of Human Resources
Office of Human Resources | 108 Perimeter Rd, Clemson, SC 29634