Cost of Living in Union 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 Union County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Union County ranks #497 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 16%)
Sourced county brief
Union County owner costs $296 below state mean
In Union County, the median monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units was $495, which is $296 lower than the South Carolina unweighted county mean of $791. The median home value was estimated at $103,600, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $199,733. For those in rental units, the median gross rent was $804, while the state unweighted county mean was $985. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.5%. This value is 1.0 percentage point higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 30.5%. Renter-household median income was $27,025. These statistics represent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119. 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: Union County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.5% of renter household income in Union 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 $804 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $495. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,160 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. Union County's $804 median is 18.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Union County
Rent Burden
23.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$971
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Union County
Median home value is $103,600. Estimated monthly cost: $827 vs. your max of $971.
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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