Dorchester County South Carolina Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Dorchester County SC was $1,149 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dorchester County was $1,131 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 Dorchester County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Dorchester County rental vacancy rates, Dorchester County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Dorchester County.
Real Gross Rent in Dorchester 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% |
| Dorchester County SC Median Gross Rent | $1,149 | -3.12% | +5.32% |
Dorchester County SC Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Dorchester County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,186 and is now $37 (3.12%) lower. Average gross rent for Dorchester County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,192 and is now $61 (5.12%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Dorchester County SC Median, Dorchester County SC Average, South Carolina Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Dorchester County
| Date | US Median |
South Carolina Median |
Dorchester County SC Median |
Dorchester County SC Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $922 | $1,149 | $1,131 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $908 | $1,186 | $1,192 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $874 | $1,092 | $1,072 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $881 | $1,091 | $1,054 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $869 | $1,024 | $974 |
| 2014 | $986 | $835 | $991 | $989 |
| 2013 | $953 | $807 | $982 | $939 |
| 2012 | $940 | $802 | $981 | $978 |
| 2011 | $941 | $800 | $1,041 | $979 |
| 2010 | $955 | $813 | $1,027 | $1,021 |
| 2009 | $960 | $805 | $954 | $922 |
| 2007 | $927 | $758 | $977 | $901 |
| 2005 | $910 | $764 | $1,023 | $1,073 |
Dorchester County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Dorchester County South Carolina was 5.48% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Dorchester 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% |
| Dorchester County SC | — | — | — |
Trends in Dorchester County SC Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Dorchester County peaked in 2009 at 15.87%. Since then it has fallen by 10.39% to 5.48%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 2.89%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.59%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Dorchester County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dorchester County
| Date | US | South Carolina | Dorchester County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.13% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 9.99% | 5.48% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.97% | 2.89% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.49% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 9.45% | 10.03% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 10.54% | — |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 10.54% | 7.61% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 12.68% | 4.32% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 12.12% | 14.61% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 13.69% | 7.84% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 13.35% | 15.87% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 11.99% | 4.40% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.43% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Dorchester County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dorchester County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.22% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Dorchester 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% |
| Dorchester County SC | 20.22% | -0.83% | -1.48% |
Trends in Dorchester County SC Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Dorchester County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.01%. Since then it has fallen by 2.80% to 20.22%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dorchester County SC, South Carolina, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dorchester County South Carolina
| Date | US | South Carolina | Dorchester County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.68% | 20.22% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.46% | 21.04% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.12% | 19.81% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.39% | 21.69% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.81% | 21.24% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.98% | 20.02% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.81% | 20.51% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 20.99% | 20.63% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 20.99% | 23.01% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.79% | 21.66% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.96% | 19.26% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.86% | 18.52% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.65% | 19.58% |
Renter Fraction in Dorchester County South Carolina
You can calculate the renter fraction in Dorchester 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 Dorchester County as a fraction of total Dorchester County households. In 2019 26.20% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Dorchester 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% |
| Dorchester County SC | 26.20% | -2.35% | -3.47% |
Trends in the Dorchester County SC Renter Fraction
The Dorchester County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 32.38% and is now 6.18% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Dorchester County SC, South Carolina, US
History of Dorchester County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | South Carolina | Dorchester County SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 29.73% | 26.20% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 30.73% | 28.55% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.25% | 28.64% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.37% | 29.67% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.87% | 29.13% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.95% | 28.85% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.83% | 31.18% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.87% | 32.38% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.83% | 28.15% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.30% | 28.52% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.86% | 25.62% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.96% | 27.53% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.91% | 26.53% |
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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