Berkeley County South Carolina Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Berkeley County SC was $1,212 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Berkeley County was $1,233 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 Berkeley County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Berkeley County rental vacancy rates, Berkeley County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Berkeley County.
Real Gross Rent in Berkeley 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% |
| Berkeley County SC Median Gross Rent | $1,212 | +3.06% | +13.80% |
Berkeley County SC Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,212, real median gross rent in Berkeley County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,233, real average gross rent in Berkeley County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Berkeley County SC Median, Berkeley County SC Average, South Carolina Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Berkeley County
| Date | US Median |
South Carolina Median |
Berkeley County SC Median |
Berkeley County SC Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $922 | $1,212 | $1,233 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $908 | $1,176 | $1,110 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $874 | $1,051 | $1,014 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $881 | $1,065 | $1,054 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $869 | $1,057 | $1,062 |
| 2014 | $986 | $835 | $1,023 | $946 |
| 2013 | $953 | $807 | $1,029 | $970 |
| 2012 | $940 | $802 | $1,018 | $918 |
| 2011 | $941 | $800 | $997 | $948 |
| 2010 | $955 | $813 | $1,010 | $959 |
| 2009 | $960 | $805 | $986 | $927 |
| 2007 | $927 | $758 | $942 | $728 |
| 2005 | $910 | $764 | $824 | $691 |
Berkeley 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 Berkeley County South Carolina was 7.03% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Berkeley 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% |
| Berkeley County SC | 7.03% | -2.59% | — |
Trends in Berkeley County SC Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Berkeley County peaked in 2012 at 13.31%. Since then it has fallen by 6.28% to 7.03%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 3.33%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.70%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Berkeley County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Berkeley County
| Date | US | South Carolina | Berkeley County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.13% | 7.03% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 9.99% | 9.62% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.97% | 3.33% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.49% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.45% | 6.20% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.54% | 5.31% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 10.54% | 7.08% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 12.68% | 13.31% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 12.12% | 4.40% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 13.69% | 12.27% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 13.35% | 8.61% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 11.99% | 6.84% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.43% | 10.76% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Berkeley County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Berkeley County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.96% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Berkeley 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% |
| Berkeley County SC | 20.96% | -1.04% | +0.33% |
Trends in Berkeley County SC Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Berkeley County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.23%. Since then it has fallen by 2.27% to 20.96%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Berkeley County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Berkeley County South Carolina
| Date | US | South Carolina | Berkeley County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.68% | 20.96% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.46% | 22.00% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.12% | 21.40% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.39% | 20.63% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.81% | 21.14% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.98% | 22.18% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.81% | 23.23% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 20.99% | 23.20% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 20.99% | 22.35% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.79% | 21.95% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.96% | 20.84% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.86% | 19.62% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.65% | 17.64% |
Renter Fraction in Berkeley County South Carolina
You can calculate the renter fraction in Berkeley 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 Berkeley County as a fraction of total Berkeley County households. In 2019 29.36% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Berkeley 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% |
| Berkeley County SC | 29.36% | +3.70% | +0.29% |
Trends in the Berkeley County SC Renter Fraction
The Berkeley County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 32.75% and is now 3.39% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Berkeley County SC, South Carolina, US
History of Berkeley County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | South Carolina | Berkeley County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 29.73% | 29.36% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 30.73% | 25.66% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.25% | 32.25% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.37% | 29.07% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.87% | 30.22% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.95% | 29.12% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.83% | 32.75% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.87% | 31.17% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.83% | 29.46% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.30% | 29.05% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.86% | 27.80% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.96% | 30.03% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.91% | 25.52% |
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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