Rents are 5% below what Irmo's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,810 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
January. Asking rents in Irmo usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in August, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Irmo is 0.3% below its high of $1,815 in January 2026, at $1,810 as of September 2026.
Rent in Irmo changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Irmo rose 39.9% while median household income rose 21.4% ($66,313 to $80,489). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Irmo is 45.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($80,489) is $2,012 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,730); a 3-bedroom is $2,210.
West Columbia, 12 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,558/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Irmo. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Irmo, SC is majority owner-occupied, 39.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Irmo, SC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Irmo, SC stood at $1,353 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,810, reflecting a 33.8% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $81,380 to $80,489 across the same window, down 1.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 11,581 residents to roughly 11,813. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Irmo, SC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Irmo on your salary?
At $1,810/mo, how Irmo rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Irmo rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Irmo. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Irmo
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Irmo is $1,810/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,420/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,730/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,560/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,210/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($80,489/yr), Irmo ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Irmo rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Irmo?
At $1,810/mo, rent takes ~27% of Irmo's median household income ($80,489/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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