10 Most Affordable Housing Markets in South Carolina

Those who like decent weather year-round, affordable home prices, and plenty of activities for any age should check out South Carolina.

Specifically, the ten following locales offer better value for your money than most places in the U.S.

Tired of paying rent but locked out of homeownership? You might consider setting down roots in one of these South Carolina gems.

1. Darlington
2. Orangeburg
3. Hartsville
4. Gaffney
5. Greenwood
6. Sumter
7. Florence
8. Camden
9. Spartanburg
10. Columbia

1. Darlington

*Payments mentioned do not include taxes, insurance, or HOA dues. Example purposes only. Not a commitment to lend.

With home prices in the low $100s, you might expect a sleepy town with nothing going on. That’s not Darlington, though. Each year, it hosts the NASCAR Cup Series Southern 500, it's home to five nationally recognized historical districts, plus parks, golf, and more. Those who live here won’t be bored.

2. Orangeburg

The Garden City, as it’s known, is home to Edisto Memorial Gardens, featuring 4,000 plants and 75 varieties of roses. The town of about 13,000 holds the Orangeburg Festival of Roses each year to showcase its green thumb.

3. Hartsville

Not only is Hartsville an enjoyable and affordable place to live, homebuyers meeting USDA eligibility criteria can purchase a home here with zero down payment. The USDA Rural Development home loan agency considers this area "rural" and has approved the region for this special loan type for regular single-family homes.

4. Gaffney

History buffs will love Gaffney’s Revolutionary War Celebrations such as its Battle of Cowpens Anniversary. Beyond recreation, the area provides job opportunities in agriculture, retail, manufacturing, and construction.

5. Greenwood

Greenwood offers incredible value for the money, with local attractions like Lake Greenwood State Park, Greenwood Mall, and Lander University. According to the city’s website, it “provides a friendly, small-town setting along with the progressive and active environment of a larger city.”

6. Sumter

A leader in biotech, Sumter is home to companies such as Nova Molecular Technologies and Ipsen. Shaw Air Force Base is nearby, offering additional economic opportunities.

7. Florence

Florence is a regional hub for healthcare, providing many jobs in the area. The Florence Regional Airport offers easy access, while the annual South Carolina Pecan Festival celebrates the region's agricultural heritage with food, music, and fun.

8. Camden

Camden, South Carolina, is a town steeped in history and charm. Established in 1732, it is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. Home to the annual Carolina Cup steeplechase horse race, Camden demonstrates equestrian culture. Historic sites like the Kershaw-Cornwallis House showcase its role in the American Revolution.

9. Spartanburg

Spartanburg offers a vibrant nightlife at its many bars and restaurants, plus outdoor adventures and family activities. But it also gives a glimpse into the past with its Hub City Railroad Museum, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, and Walnut Grove Plantation.

10. Columbia

South Carolina’s capital city, Columbia is one of the bigger metros on the list. At 136,000 in population – the state’s second most populous – there’s a metropolitan vibe here. From colleges and museums to sports and employment, Columbia offers everything that larger cities do but at a fraction of the price.

Get pre-approved for your South Carolina home

Many towns and cities across South Carolina are affordable for just about any budget. See what home price you qualify for by requesting your pre-approval from a reputable lender.

Methodology

To find the 10 most affordable housing markets in South Carolina, we started with typical home prices as reported on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) Single-Family Home Time Series for November 2023. We assumed a 5% down payment, the typical requirement for first-time buyers. We then calculated the monthly payment on a 30-year fixed mortgage using a 6.845% rate, the average rate at the time of data collection as published on Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices for a buyer with less than 20% down and a 700 FICO score. We added PMI costs per rates from mortgage insurance provider MGIC. The stated mortgage payment does not include homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, or HOA dues. To increase relevancy, we limited eligible cities to the top 3,000 largest by population in the U.S. per Zillow’s report.