Cost of Living in Dorchester 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 Dorchester County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dorchester County ranks #2,819 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Dorchester County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,463 Monthly
In Dorchester County, South Carolina, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,463 per month. This figure is $478 above the South Carolina unweighted county mean rent of $985. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 33.1%. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 2.6 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 30.5%. For owner-occupied housing units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,386, which is above the unweighted county mean of $791. The median home value in the county was $329,300, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $199,733. Median renter-household income for the same period was estimated at $53,395. These figures provide a statistical snapshot based on the most recent 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. 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: Dorchester County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.1% of renter household income in Dorchester 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 $1,463 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,386. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $58,520 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. Dorchester County's $1,463 median is 48.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dorchester County
Rent Burden
22.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,825
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.3%
of gross income
The median home in Dorchester County may be a stretch
Median home value is $329,300. Estimated monthly cost: $2,629 vs. your max of $1,825.
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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