Cost of Living in Fairfield 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 Fairfield County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Fairfield County ranks #1,234 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 39%)
Sourced county brief
Fairfield County Rent to Income Percentage Reaches 33.4%
In Fairfield County, South Carolina, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 33.4%. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 2.9 percentage points higher than the South Carolina unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 30.5%. The median gross rent for renter-occupied units was estimated at $938 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $985. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $620, which is $171 below the state unweighted county mean of $791. The median home value in the county was reported as $151,200, compared to the unweighted county mean of $199,733. Median renter-household income for the period was $32,518. These statistics provide a snapshot of housing costs based on the 2020-2024 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: Fairfield County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.4% of renter household income in Fairfield 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 $938 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $620. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,520 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. Fairfield County's $938 median is 4.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Fairfield County
Rent Burden
23.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,117
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.5%
of gross income
The median home in Fairfield County may be a stretch
Median home value is $151,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,207 vs. your max of $1,117.
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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