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Buying a home in Aiken, South Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Aiken is worth about $286,800, 11% above the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 14% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,273 a year in property taxes, about 0.44% of their home's value, lower than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $76,746 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 68% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Aiken at a glance

Aiken South Carolina U.S.
Median home value $286,800 $259,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,273 $1,251 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.44% 0.48% 0.94%
Median household income $76,746 $69,324 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 68% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,448 $1,529 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.5% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,180 $1,180 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 36.9% 31.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1989 1992 1980
Vacant homes 13.5% 13.3% 10.1%
Population 32,521 5,296,225 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Aiken

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Aiken home of $286,800 with 20% down costs about $1,768 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,246, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $75,777 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Aiken household income of $76,746; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $290,000.

The median rent here is $1,180 a month, so owning the median home costs about $588 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$57,360
Loan amount$229,440
Principal and interest$1,543
Property taxes (0.44% a year)$105
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$120
PMI$0
Total per month$1,768

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,038
Loan amount$281,605
Principal and interest$1,894
Property taxes (0.44% a year)$105
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$120
FHA mortgage insurance$127
Total per month$2,246

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Questions about home buying in Aiken

What is the median home value in Aiken?

About $286,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Aiken?

Homeowners pay a median $1,273 a year, which is about 0.44% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Aiken?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,768 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $75,777 a year.

More about Aiken

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data