Rents are 13% below what Rock Hill'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 $1,517 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
February. Asking rents in Rock Hill usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in May, about $15 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Rock Hill is 1.9% below its high of $1,547 in May 2026, at $1,517 as of September 2026.
Rent in Rock Hill changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent in Rock Hill is 44.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
30% of the median household income ($68,771) is $1,719 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,625); a 3-bedroom is $2,005.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Rock Hill. 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
Rock Hill, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, 35.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Rock Hill, SC has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Rock Hill, SC has climbed from $1,131 to $1,517, a 34.1% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $68,771 today, compared with $55,706 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.3% since 2021, moving from about 72,883 residents to roughly 75,259. Renters now make up 45.8% of households, compared with 48.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 35.1% of adults here, versus 32.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,517/mo, how Rock Hill rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Rock Hill rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Rock Hill. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Rock Hill
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Rock Hill is $1,517/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,415/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,625/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,465/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,005/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($68,771/yr), Rock Hill ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Rock Hill rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
At $1,517/mo, rent takes ~26% of Rock Hill's median household income ($68,771/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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