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Buying a home in Horry County, South Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Horry County is worth about $287,700, 11% above the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 14% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $944 a year in property taxes, about 0.33% of their home's value, lower than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $66,880 a year, so the median home costs 4.3 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Horry County at a glance

Horry County South Carolina U.S.
Median home value $287,700 $259,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $944 $1,251 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.33% 0.48% 0.94%
Median household income $66,880 $69,324 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,446 $1,529 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.4% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,255 $1,180 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 31.2% 31.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1999 1992 1980
Vacant homes 27.0% 13.3% 10.1%
Population 383,016 5,296,225 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Horry County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Horry County home of $287,700 with 20% down costs about $1,747 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,227, 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 $74,884 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Horry County household income of $66,880; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $257,000.

The median rent here is $1,255 a month, so owning the median home costs about $492 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$57,540
Loan amount$230,160
Principal and interest$1,548
Property taxes (0.33% a year)$79
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$120
PMI$0
Total per month$1,747

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,070
Loan amount$282,489
Principal and interest$1,900
Property taxes (0.33% a year)$79
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$120
FHA mortgage insurance$127
Total per month$2,227

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Questions about home buying in Horry County

What is the median home value in Horry County?

About $287,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Horry County?

Homeowners pay a median $944 a year, which is about 0.33% 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 Horry County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,747 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $74,884 a year.

More about Horry County

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