The typical owner-occupied home in Saluda County is worth about $146,500, 43% below the South Carolina median of $259,000 and 56% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $747 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of their home's value, higher than the South Carolina rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $51,009 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (3.7 times for South Carolina). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 38% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Saluda County at a glance
| Saluda County | South Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,500 | $259,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $747 | $1,251 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.51% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $51,009 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 38% | 57% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,362 | $1,529 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.4% | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $851 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.2% | 31.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1987 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 19.6% | 13.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 19,131 | 5,296,225 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Saluda County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Saluda County home of $146,500 with 20% down costs about $912 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,156, 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 $39,073 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Saluda County household income of $51,009; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $191,000.
The median rent here is $851 a month, so owning the median home costs about $61 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $29,300 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $117,200 |
| Principal and interest | $788 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $62 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $61 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $912 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,128 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $143,847 |
| Principal and interest | $968 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $62 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $61 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $65 |
| Total per month | $1,156 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Saluda County
What is the median home value in Saluda County?
About $146,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Saluda County?
Homeowners pay a median $747 a year, which is about 0.51% 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 Saluda County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $912 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $39,073 a year.
More about Saluda County
- Mortgage Refinance in Saluda County
- Debt Relief in Saluda County
- Home Equity Loans in Saluda 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