City Report · SC

Orangeburg

Pop. 13,253·60th most expensive in South Carolina·Orangeburg rents are up 8.7% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,152/mo
Year-over-Year
+8.7%
Month-over-Month
+1.9%
vs US Median
-$780
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Orangeburg · $1,152
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
36% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,152/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$38,635/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Orangeburg's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$855
1 BR
$890
2 BR
$1,030
3 BR
$1,280
4 BR+
$1,485
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,030/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,152 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in Orangeburg changed +8.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($38,635) is $966 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($890); a 2-bedroom is $1,030.

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

Annual cost
$13,824/yr
At $1,152/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 8.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+8.7% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Orangeburg, SC is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 26.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
13,253
Median income
$38,635
Median age
36.4
Renters
55.4%
Age distribution
18.5%
30.5%
19.1%
12.7%
19.3%
Under 1818.5%
18–3430.5%
35–5419.1%
55–6412.7%
65+19.3%
Gender
47.4%
52.6%
Male47.4%
Female52.6%
Race & ethnicity
20.5%
73.7%
White20.5%
Black73.7%
Hispanic0.8%
Asian1.1%
Other3.9%
Education (25+)
17.6%
29.1%
27%
26.3%
No HS diploma17.6%
HS diploma29.1%
Some college27%
Bachelor's+26.3%
Housing tenure
44.6%
55.4%
Owner44.6%
Renter55.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Orangeburg, SC has changed in 5 years

Income
$28,597 → $38,635
up 35.1%
Population
12,779 → 13,253
up 3.7%
Renter share
55.3% → 55.4%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
28.4% → 26.3%
-2.1 pts

Census figures show median household income at $38,635 today, compared with $28,597 five years earlier. Census counts show Orangeburg, SC adding about 474 residents over the five-year window, up 3.7% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 28.4% to 26.3% across the same window.

Community

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View Orangeburg rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Orangeburg on your salary?

At $1,152/mo, how Orangeburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Orangeburg rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Orangeburg

About renting in Orangeburg, SC

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Orangeburg is $1,152/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $855/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $890/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,280/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($38,635/yr), Orangeburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Orangeburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,152/mo in Orangeburg. The local median household income is $38,635/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Orangeburg?

Rent in Orangeburg has risen 8.7% over the past year.

Which Orangeburg neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Orangeburg are 29115 ($911/mo), and 29118 ($1,399/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $1,152/mo.

How does Orangeburg rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Orangeburg is one of the more affordable among South Carolina cities for rent, ranking #60 of 62 tracked cities at $1,152/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Orangeburg changed +8.7%, against a typical +3.1% across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
36%
MODERATE

At $1,152/mo, rent takes ~36% of Orangeburg's median household income ($38,635/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Orangeburg 36%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.2%
Run the Orangeburg affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Orangeburg
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Orangeburg, SC

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