At $1,780/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within 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 $1,780 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 Elgin changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($77,994) is $1,950 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,730); a 4-bedroom is $2,000.
Blythewood, 11 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,554/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Elgin. 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
Elgin, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 23% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Elgin, SC has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $77,994 today, compared with $55,152 five years earlier. The population has contracted by 17.9% since 2021, moving from about 2,876 residents to roughly 2,360. College-educated residents now make up 23% of adults here, versus 17.1% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Elgin on your salary?
At $1,780/mo, how Elgin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Elgin rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Elgin. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Elgin
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Elgin is $1,780/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,400/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,190/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,730/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($77,994/yr), Elgin ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Elgin?
Is rent going up or down in Elgin?
How does Elgin rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Elgin?
At $1,780/mo, rent takes ~27% of Elgin's median household income ($77,994/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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