Rents are 4% below what Lexington'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 $1,774 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
March. Asking rents in Lexington usually run 0.6% below trend in March and 0.7% above it in October, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Lexington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Lexington 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 Lexington rose 39.7% while median household income rose 19.4% ($72,996 to $87,126). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lexington is 44.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($87,126) is $2,178 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,000).
West Columbia, 10 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,558/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lexington. 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
Lexington, SC is majority owner-occupied, 50.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lexington, SC has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Lexington, SC has climbed from $1,319 to $1,774, a 34.5% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $73,785 in 2021 to $87,126 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 6.6% since 2021, moving from about 23,068 residents to roughly 24,585. Renters now make up 31.3% of households, compared with 35.5% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 50.7% of adults here, versus 46.2% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lexington, SC market of 2021.
Discussions about Lexington
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Can you afford rent in Lexington on your salary?
At $1,774/mo, how Lexington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lexington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lexington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lexington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lexington is $1,774/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,070/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,305/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,180/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,665/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($87,126/yr), Lexington 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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Is rent going up or down in Lexington?
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Has rent outpaced income in Lexington?
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How does Lexington rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lexington?
At $1,774/mo, rent takes ~24% of Lexington's median household income ($87,126/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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