The typical owner-occupied home in Dorchester County is worth about $329,300, 27% above the South Carolina median of $259,000 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,851 a year in property taxes, about 0.56% of their home's value, higher than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $78,198 a year, so the median home costs 4.2 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Dorchester County at a glance
| Dorchester County | South Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,300 | $259,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,851 | $1,251 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.56% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $78,198 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 76% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,790 | $1,529 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.5% | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,463 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.1% | 31.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 2000 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.9% | 13.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 167,201 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Dorchester County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dorchester County home of $329,300 with 20% down costs about $2,063 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,612, 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 $88,417 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Dorchester County household income of $78,198; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $291,000.
The median rent here is $1,463 a month, so owning the median home costs about $600 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $65,860 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $263,440 |
| Principal and interest | $1,772 |
| Property taxes (0.56% a year) | $154 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $137 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,063 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $11,526 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $323,336 |
| Principal and interest | $2,175 |
| Property taxes (0.56% a year) | $154 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $137 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $146 |
| Total per month | $2,612 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Dorchester County
What is the median home value in Dorchester County?
About $329,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Dorchester County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,851 a year, which is about 0.56% 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 Dorchester County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,063 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $88,417 a year.
More about Dorchester County
- Mortgage Refinance in Dorchester County
- Debt Relief in Dorchester County
- Home Equity Loans in Dorchester County
- 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