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Kershaw County, SC

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kershaw County, SC is $1,009 per month, ranking #575 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $64,343, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 18.8% of income on housing. Rent in Kershaw County has increased 2.4% year over year. The area has a population of 67K, with 18.3% of households renting.

18.8%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,009
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$64,343
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$872
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+2.4%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
67K
Population
Census ACS
18.3%
Renters
of occupied housing
$191,900
Median Home Value
4.9%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
12.6%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
14.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$844
Studio
$849
1 Bedroom
$1,009
2 Bedroom
$1,214
3 Bedroom
$1,458
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Kershaw County, SC, a household earning the area median income of $64,343 would spend 18.8% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$40,360
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$19
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$872
$137 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+40.5% since 2021
$7182021$7602022$8952023$9852024$9872025$1,0092026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 107.1 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Kershaw County is 14.1%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
107.1 hrs
Poverty Rate
14.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Kershaw County is $191,900. At a median income of $64,343, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. 12.6% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing. The local unemployment rate is 4.9%, roughly in line with national averages.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,343 est. mortgage
vs $1,009 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
12.6%
of housing units
Unemployment
4.9%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in South Carolina

Beaufort County
$1,816/mo
2BR FMR · 25.7% burden
Charleston-North Charleston
$1,787/mo
2BR FMR · 26.1% burden
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
$1,686/mo
2BR FMR · 25.2% burden
Jasper County
$1,542/mo
2BR FMR · 29.1% burden
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway
$1,465/mo
2BR FMR · 27.2% burden

Compare Kershaw County

vs Beaufort County, SCvs Charleston-North Charleston, SCvs Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, SC

Areas With Similar Rent to Kershaw County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kershaw County, SC is $1,009 per month. A studio is $844/mo, a 1-bedroom is $849/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,214/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $872/mo.

Kershaw County has a rent burden of 18.8%, meaning a household earning the median income of $64,343 would spend 18.8% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $40,360.

Kershaw County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,009/mo is $241 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Kershaw County ranks #575 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kershaw County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $40,360, or a full-time hourly wage of $19/hour. The area median income is $64,343.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kershaw County increased by 2.4% compared to the prior year. This is a modest increase, roughly in line with typical housing cost trends.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.