Cost of Living in Richland 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 Richland County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Richland County ranks #2,612 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Richland County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,206
In Richland County, South Carolina, median monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,206. This figure is $415 above the state unweighted county mean of $791. The median home value in the county was estimated at $242,800, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $199,733. Median gross rent was $1,228 per month, above the unweighted county mean of $985. Regarding renter affordability, the official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 34.7%, which is 4.2 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 30.5%. Median renter-household income was recorded at $40,012, while the median income for all households was $63,784. These data points are based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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: Richland County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.7% of renter household income in Richland 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 $1,228 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,206. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $49,120 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. Richland County's $1,228 median is 24.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Richland County
Rent Burden
23.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,488
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.7%
of gross income
The median home in Richland County may be a stretch
Median home value is $242,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,938 vs. your max of $1,488.
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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