Cost of Living in Beaufort County, South Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Beaufort County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Beaufort County ranks #2,919 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Beaufort County Median Home Value Reaches $455,600
In Beaufort County, the median home value was estimated at $455,600, which is $255,867 above the South Carolina unweighted county mean of $199,733. The median gross rent was $1,653 per month, which is $668 above the state unweighted county mean of $985. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.8%. This is 1.3 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 30.5%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,486, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $791. Median renter-household income was recorded at $56,462, and the median income for all households was $86,573. The rentToIncomePct of 31.8% is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate rather than a derived calculation. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Beaufort County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.8% of renter household income in Beaufort County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,653 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,486. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $66,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $985 per month. Beaufort County's $1,653 median is 67.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Beaufort County
Rent Burden
22.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,020
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.6%
of gross income
The median home in Beaufort County may be a stretch
Median home value is $455,600. Estimated monthly cost: $3,637 vs. your max of $2,020.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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