City Report · SC

Piedmont

Pop. 5,462·51st most expensive in South Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Piedmont, SC
Median rent (all units)
$1,455/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.1%
Month-over-Month
+0.3%
vs US Median
-$477
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Piedmont · $1,455
More affordable than 78% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
33% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,455/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$58,000/yr
Local median income
$52,764/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Piedmont's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$930
1 BR
$970
2 BR
$1,090
3 BR
$1,350
4 BR+
$1,670
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,090/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,455 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 Piedmont changed +2.1% 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 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($52,764) is $1,319 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,090); a 3-bedroom is $1,350.

Cheaper nearby

Central, 20 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$17,460/yr
At $1,455/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Piedmont, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 18.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
5,462
Median income
$52,764
Median age
36.8
Renters
29.8%
Age distribution
26.4%
21.7%
21.3%
13.8%
16.8%
Under 1826.4%
18–3421.7%
35–5421.3%
55–6413.8%
65+16.8%
Gender
51.1%
48.9%
Male51.1%
Female48.9%
Race & ethnicity
78.7%
14.6%
White78.7%
Black14.6%
Hispanic1.7%
Asian0.6%
Other4.4%
Education (25+)
21.7%
30.4%
29.3%
18.6%
No HS diploma21.7%
HS diploma30.4%
Some college29.3%
Bachelor's+18.6%
Housing tenure
70.2%
29.8%
Owner70.2%
Renter29.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Piedmont, SC has changed in 5 years

Income
$52,955 → $52,764
down 0.4%
Population
5,581 → 5,462
down 2.1%
Renter share
34.9% → 29.8%
-5.1 pts
Bachelor's+
13.7% → 18.6%
+4.9 pts
Median age
35.5 → 36.8
+1.3 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $52,955 in 2021 to $52,764 more recently. Census counts show Piedmont, SC losing about 119 residents over the five-year window, down 2.1% on net. The renter share has eased from 34.9% to 29.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 13.7% to 18.6% across the same window.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Piedmont on your salary?

At $1,455/mo, how Piedmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Piedmont rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Piedmont

About renting in Piedmont, SC

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Piedmont is $1,455/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,350/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($52,764/yr), Piedmont ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Piedmont?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,455/mo in Piedmont. The local median household income is $52,764/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Piedmont?

Rent in Piedmont has risen 2.1% over the past year.

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

Piedmont is one of the more affordable among South Carolina cities for rent, ranking #51 of 62 tracked cities at $1,455/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Piedmont changed +2.1%, against a typical +3.1% across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Piedmont?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Piedmont ($1,455/mo) include Mauldin ($1,368/mo).
Income Affordability
33%
MODERATE

At $1,455/mo, rent takes ~33% of Piedmont's median household income ($52,764/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Piedmont 33%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.2%
Run the Piedmont affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Piedmont
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Piedmont, SC

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