City Report · SC

Forest Acres

Pop. 10,530·60th most expensive in South Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,241/mo
Year-over-Year
-1.1%
Month-over-Month
+0.5%
vs US Median
-$691
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Forest Acres · $1,241
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
19% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,241/mo, rent takes about 19% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$78,306/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Forest Acres's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$3,501
1 BR
$1,189
2 BR
$1,189
3 BR
$1,480
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,189/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,241 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

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in Forest Acres changed -1.1% over the year to August 2026. Across the 56 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($78,306) is $1,958 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,480).

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

Annual cost
$14,892/yr
At $1,241/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 (-1.1% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Forest Acres, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 62% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,530
Median income
$78,306
Median age
41.5
Renters
22.5%
Age distribution
20.7%
19.4%
26.3%
22.6%
Under 1820.7%
18–3419.4%
35–5426.3%
55–6410.9%
65+22.6%
Gender
48.1%
51.9%
Male48.1%
Female51.9%
Race & ethnicity
79%
12.9%
White79%
Black12.9%
Hispanic1.7%
Asian1.8%
Other4.6%
Education (25+)
26.2%
62%
No HS diploma4.1%
HS diploma7.7%
Some college26.2%
Bachelor's+62%
Housing tenure
77.5%
22.5%
Owner77.5%
Renter22.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Forest Acres, SC has changed in 5 years

Income
$67,575 → $78,306
up 15.9%
Population
10,621 → 10,530
down 0.9%
Renter share
23.8% → 22.5%
-1.3 pts
Bachelor's+
62.7% → 62%
-0.7 pts
Median age
37.8 → 41.5
+3.7 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $67,575 in 2021 to $78,306 more recently.

Community

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View Forest Acres rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Forest Acres on your salary?

At $1,241/mo, how Forest Acres rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Forest Acres rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Forest Acres

About renting in Forest Acres, SC

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Forest Acres is $1,241/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,501/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,189/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,189/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,480/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($78,306/yr), Forest Acres ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Forest Acres?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,241/mo in Forest Acres. The local median household income is $78,306/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Forest Acres?

Rent in Forest Acres has fallen 1.1% over the past year.

How does Forest Acres rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Forest Acres is one of the more affordable among South Carolina cities for rent, ranking #60 of 64 tracked cities at $1,241/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in Forest Acres changed -1.1%, against a typical +2.5% across the 56 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
19%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,241/mo, rent takes ~19% of Forest Acres's median household income ($78,306/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Forest Acres 19%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.2%
Run the Forest Acres affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Forest Acres, SC

Recent submissions

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