SC · Housing affordability · 2024

South CarolinaHousing Affordability by County

South Carolina has the highest debt-in-collections rate of any US state

South Carolina counties average $259,000 for a home, but financial stress runs deep: the state has the highest average debt-in-collections rate in the country at 36.3% — nearly three times the rate of the lowest-stress states. Allendale County, where 54% of adults carry debt in collections on a median income of $49,046, ranks among the most financially distressed communities in the United States.

Getting pricey Population: 5,296,225

A mid-range market — neither a bargain nor a crisis by national standards.

Years of income to buy a home

3.7×

▼ 11% vs US average

Typical home price

$259,000

▼ 25% vs US average

Typical monthly rent

$1,180

▼ 10% vs US average

Renters paying too much for rent

46.3%

▲ 3% vs US average

Homeowners stretched thin

14.5%

▼ 10% vs US average

Typical household income

$69,324

▼ 14% vs US average

How to read the bars: the coloured bar is SC's value; the grey tick is the US average. "Paying too much" means spending more than 30% of income on housing — the standard economic threshold for cost burden.

What the data shows

Buying a home in South Carolina is manageable for many families, though it takes real commitment. The typical home costs $259,000, which is about 3.7× of the typical household income of $69,324 a year. A family saving their entire income would need around 3.7 years to cover the purchase price — before mortgage interest, taxes, or upkeep.

Renters face real pressure. The typical rent in South Carolina is $1,180 a month, and 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 3% higher than the national average of 45%.

14.5% of South Carolina homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — close to the national average of 16.1%.

How South Carolina ranks nationally

Rank 1 = most expensive / highest burden. Compared against all 50 states and DC (51 in total).

Years to buy a home

31st

of 51 states

Typical home price

33rd

of 51 states

Typical monthly rent

30th

of 51 states

Renters paying too much

19th

of 51 states

Common questions

Is South Carolina affordable to live in? +

It depends on what you're comparing to. South Carolina is in the middle of the pack nationally. The typical home costs $259,000, which is 3.7× of the typical household income — above the national average, but far from the extremes seen in California or Hawaii.

What is the average rent in South Carolina? +

The typical monthly rent in South Carolina is $1,180, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. About 46% of SC renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent.

How much do you need to earn to buy a home in South Carolina? +

As a rough guide, you'd need a household income of around $65,000 a year to comfortably afford the typical South Carolina home of $259,000, assuming a 20% down payment and standard mortgage terms. The typical South Carolina household earns $69,324 a year.

Explore South Carolina county by county on the map

The state average is only part of the story. Drill into individual counties and census tracts to see where affordability varies most across South Carolina.

Open SC on the map

Other states in the same tier — Getting pricey