Rents are 3% below what Seneca'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 $1,458 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
Rent in Seneca is 0.3% below its high of $1,463 in November 2025, at $1,458 as of September 2026.
Rent in Seneca changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,022) is $1,301 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,060); a 3-bedroom is $1,310.
Central, 8 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Seneca. 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
Seneca, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Seneca, SC has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $52,022 today, compared with $48,816 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 8,734 residents to roughly 8,993. Renters now make up 48.6% of households, compared with 41.2% five years ago.
Discussions about Seneca
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Can you afford rent in Seneca on your salary?
At $1,458/mo, how Seneca rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Seneca rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Seneca. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Seneca
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Seneca is $1,458/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,060/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,310/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($52,022/yr), Seneca ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Seneca?
Is rent going up or down in Seneca?
Which Seneca neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Seneca rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
At $1,458/mo, rent takes ~34% of Seneca's median household income ($52,022/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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