Beaufort County South Carolina Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Beaufort County SC was $1,189 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Beaufort County was $1,259 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Beaufort County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Beaufort County rental vacancy rates, Beaufort County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Beaufort County.
Real Gross Rent in Beaufort County South Carolina (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| South Carolina Median Gross Rent | $922 | +1.54% | +4.65% |
| Beaufort County SC Median Gross Rent | $1,189 | -10.13% | -2.94% |
Beaufort County SC Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Beaufort County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,323 and is now $134 (10.13%) lower. Average gross rent for Beaufort County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,274 and is now $15 (1.18%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Beaufort County SC Median, Beaufort County SC Average, South Carolina Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Beaufort County
| Date | US Median |
South Carolina Median |
Beaufort County SC Median |
Beaufort County SC Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $922 | $1,189 | $1,259 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $908 | $1,323 | $1,274 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $874 | $1,125 | $1,126 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $881 | $1,225 | $1,267 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $869 | $1,145 | $1,206 |
| 2014 | $986 | $835 | $1,110 | $1,097 |
| 2013 | $953 | $807 | $1,053 | $1,116 |
| 2012 | $940 | $802 | $1,017 | $1,048 |
| 2011 | $941 | $800 | $1,127 | $1,015 |
| 2010 | $955 | $813 | $1,092 | $1,114 |
| 2009 | $960 | $805 | $1,166 | $1,129 |
| 2007 | $927 | $758 | $1,096 | $1,066 |
| 2005 | $910 | $764 | $1,148 | $1,015 |
Beaufort County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Beaufort County South Carolina was 15.73% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Beaufort County South Carolina
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| South Carolina | 9.13% | -0.86% | +0.64% |
| Beaufort County SC | 15.73% | +1.59% | +6.91% |
Trends in Beaufort County SC Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Beaufort County peaked in 2012 at 23.94%. Since then it has fallen by 8.21% to 15.73%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 8.62%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 7.11%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Beaufort County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Beaufort County
| Date | US | South Carolina | Beaufort County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.13% | 15.73% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 9.99% | 14.14% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.97% | 9.14% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.49% | 8.82% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.45% | 12.64% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.54% | 10.97% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 10.54% | 8.62% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 12.68% | 23.94% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 12.12% | 16.16% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 13.69% | 22.27% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 13.35% | 23.57% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 11.99% | 16.66% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.43% | 13.31% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Beaufort County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Beaufort County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.25% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Beaufort County South Carolina Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| South Carolina | 19.68% | -0.79% | -0.71% |
| Beaufort County SC | 19.25% | -4.53% | -2.05% |
Trends in Beaufort County SC Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Beaufort County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.78%. Since then it has fallen by 4.53% to 19.25%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Beaufort County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Beaufort County South Carolina
| Date | US | South Carolina | Beaufort County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.68% | 19.25% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.46% | 23.78% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.12% | 22.25% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.39% | 21.30% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.81% | 21.49% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.98% | 22.93% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.81% | 21.01% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 20.99% | 21.17% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 20.99% | 22.58% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.79% | 20.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.96% | 22.76% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.86% | 20.80% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.65% | 22.51% |
Renter Fraction in Beaufort County South Carolina
You can calculate the renter fraction in Beaufort County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Beaufort County as a fraction of total Beaufort County households. In 2019 23.25% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Beaufort County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| South Carolina | 29.73% | -1.00% | -1.64% |
| Beaufort County SC | 23.25% | -2.00% | -2.75% |
Trends in the Beaufort County SC Renter Fraction
The Beaufort County household renter fraction peaked in in 2006 at 32.66% and is now 9.41% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Beaufort County SC, South Carolina, US
History of Beaufort County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | South Carolina | Beaufort County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 29.73% | 23.25% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 30.73% | 25.25% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.25% | 28.71% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.37% | 26.00% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.87% | 29.44% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.95% | 31.23% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.83% | 30.15% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.87% | 27.59% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.83% | 31.16% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.30% | 30.81% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.86% | 24.35% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.96% | 30.16% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.91% | 30.16% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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