At $1,483/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,483 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Clemson changed +12.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($49,520) is $1,238 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,150); a 2-bedroom is $1,270.
Central, 4 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Clemson. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Clemson, SC is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 59.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Clemson, SC has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Clemson, SC now reports about $49,520, up from $48,335 in 2021. Census counts show Clemson, SC adding about 834 residents over the five-year window, up 4.8% on net. The renter share has risen from 62.1% to 65.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 61.5% to 59.4% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Clemson on your salary?
At $1,483/mo, how Clemson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Clemson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Clemson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Clemson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Clemson is $1,483/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,100/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,270/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,150/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,550/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($49,520/yr), Clemson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Clemson?
How does Clemson rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
At $1,483/mo, rent takes ~36% of Clemson's median household income ($49,520/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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