The typical owner-occupied home in Clearwater is worth about $158,100, 39% below the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 52% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $631 a year in property taxes, about 0.40% of their home's value, lower than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $51,731 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 58% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Clearwater at a glance
| Clearwater | South Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $259,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $631 | $1,251 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.40% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $51,731 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 58% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,280 | $1,529 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.2% | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $735 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 18.2% | 31.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1978 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 14.3% | 13.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,319 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Clearwater
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Clearwater home of $158,100 with 20% down costs about $969 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,233, 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 $41,547 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Clearwater household income of $51,731; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $197,000.
The median rent here is $735 a month, so owning the median home costs about $234 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $31,620 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $126,480 |
| Principal and interest | $851 |
| Property taxes (0.40% a year) | $53 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $969 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,534 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $155,236 |
| Principal and interest | $1,044 |
| Property taxes (0.40% a year) | $53 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $70 |
| Total per month | $1,233 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Clearwater
What is the median home value in Clearwater?
About $158,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Clearwater?
Homeowners pay a median $631 a year, which is about 0.40% 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 Clearwater?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $969 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,547 a year.
More about Clearwater
- Mortgage Refinance in Clearwater
- Debt Relief in Clearwater
- Home Equity Loans in Clearwater
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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