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Buying a home in Clemson, South Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Clemson is worth about $398,400, 54% above the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 20% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,912 a year in property taxes, about 0.48% of their home's value, close to the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $49,520 a year, so the median home costs 8.0 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 34% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Clemson at a glance

Clemson South Carolina U.S.
Median home value $398,400 $259,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,912 $1,251 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.48% 0.48% 0.94%
Median household income $49,520 $69,324 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 34% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 56% 57% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,017 $1,529 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.8% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $1,007 $1,180 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 39.4% 31.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1989 1992 1980
Vacant homes 10.0% 13.3% 10.1%
Population 18,072 5,296,225 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Clemson

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Clemson home of $398,400 with 20% down costs about $2,469 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,133, 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 $105,832 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 60% of the median Clemson household income of $49,520; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $186,000.

The median rent here is $1,007 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,462 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$79,680
Loan amount$318,720
Principal and interest$2,144
Property taxes (0.48% a year)$159
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$166
PMI$0
Total per month$2,469

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$13,944
Loan amount$391,184
Principal and interest$2,632
Property taxes (0.48% a year)$159
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$166
FHA mortgage insurance$176
Total per month$3,133

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Questions about home buying in Clemson

What is the median home value in Clemson?

About $398,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Clemson?

Homeowners pay a median $1,912 a year, which is about 0.48% 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 Clemson?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,469 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $105,832 a year.

More about Clemson

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