City Report · SC

Chapin

Pop. 1,394·5th most expensive in South Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Chapin, SC
Median rent (all units)
$2,190/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+0.6%
vs US Median
+$258
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Chapin rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Chapin · $2,190
More expensive than 69% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
33% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,190/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$88,000/yr
Local median income
$79,922/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Chapin's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,470
1 BR
$1,620
2 BR
$1,800
3 BR
$2,290
4 BR+
$2,750
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,800/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,190 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($79,922) is $1,998 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,800); a 3-bedroom is $2,290.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Chapin. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$26,280/yr
At $2,190/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Chapin, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 34.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
1,394
Median income
$79,922
Median age
43
Renters
13.6%
Age distribution
20.4%
18.1%
24.1%
15.6%
21.8%
Under 1820.4%
18–3418.1%
35–5424.1%
55–6415.6%
65+21.8%
Gender
47.4%
52.6%
Male47.4%
Female52.6%
Race & ethnicity
73.2%
16.1%
White73.2%
Black16.1%
Hispanic3.7%
Asian2.2%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
26%
31.3%
34.7%
No HS diploma8%
HS diploma26%
Some college31.3%
Bachelor's+34.7%
Housing tenure
86.4%
13.6%
Owner86.4%
Renter13.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Chapin, SC has changed in 5 years

Income
$64,236 → $79,922
up 24.4%
Population
1,544 → 1,394
down 9.7%
Renter share
19.3% → 13.6%
-5.7 pts
Bachelor's+
30.1% → 34.7%
+4.6 pts
Median age
37.4 → 43
+5.6 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $79,922 today, compared with $64,236 five years earlier. Census counts show Chapin, SC losing about 150 residents over the five-year window, down 9.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 19.3% to 13.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 30.1% to 34.7% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Chapin

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Chapin rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Chapin on your salary?

At $2,190/mo, how Chapin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Chapin rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Chapin. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Chapin

About renting in Chapin, SC

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Chapin is $2,190/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,470/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,800/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,620/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,290/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($79,922/yr), Chapin ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Chapin?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $88,000/year (about $42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,190/mo in Chapin. The local median household income is $79,922/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Chapin?

Rent in Chapin has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Chapin rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Chapin is one of the pricier among South Carolina cities for rent, ranking #5 of 62 tracked cities at $2,190/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chapin?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Chapin ($2,190/mo) include Newberry ($1,283/mo), Cayce ($1,462/mo), and West Columbia ($1,558/mo).
Income Affordability
33%
MODERATE

At $2,190/mo, rent takes ~33% of Chapin's median household income ($79,922/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Chapin 33%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.2%
Run the Chapin affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Chapin
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Chapin, SC

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Chapin.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.