Housing decision brief
Fairfield County, SC Housing Market
Fairfield County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
14th lowest home value out of 46 South Carolina counties with data | 28th lowest rent out of 46
Median home value
$129,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$910/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$619/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
34.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$291/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$129,100 median home value is 19% below South Carolina county median
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $291/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$46,972 median income is 16% below South Carolina county median
Health context
Health score is 21.6 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Fairfield County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $129,100 | $158,600 | $281,900 | 19% favorable19% below South Carolina county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $910 | $878 | $1,163 | Near state median4% above South Carolina county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $619 | $694 | $1,672 | 11% favorable11% below South Carolina county median |
Median household income | $46,972 | $55,754 | $74,755 | 16% pressure16% below South Carolina county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.53% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 47% favorable47% below South Carolina county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 34.00% | 29.00% | N/A | 17% pressure34.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$10,572
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$20,443
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Fairfield County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $910/month representing approximately 23.2% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 34.0%.
Rent vs own
At $910/month rent versus $619/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $291/month cheaper , a 32% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $36,400/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $26,529/year. With a median household income of $46,972, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 34.0% of renter households in Fairfield County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Fairfield County sits 7% more expensive than Edgefield County ($854/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington County, SC | $141,400 | $876/mo | Same-state comparison near $141,400 home value and $876/mo rent. |
| Colleton County, SC | $145,900 | $905/mo | Same-state comparison near $145,900 home value and $905/mo rent. |
| Cherokee County, SC | $135,200 | $813/mo | Same-state comparison near $135,200 home value and $813/mo rent. |
| Chester County, SC | $143,800 | $918/mo | Same-state comparison near $143,800 home value and $918/mo rent. |
| Saluda County, SC | $123,200 | $814/mo | Same-state comparison near $123,200 home value and $814/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Fairfield County
Is Fairfield County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Fairfield County?
How much income do you need for housing in Fairfield County?
What should I double-check before moving to Fairfield County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.