Rents are 8% below what Spartanburg'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 $1,374 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
January. Asking rents in Spartanburg usually run 1% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in August, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Spartanburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in Spartanburg changed +2.1% 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 Spartanburg rose 36.5% while median household income rose 29.7% ($40,053 to $51,964). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Spartanburg is 39.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($51,964) is $1,299 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,212); a 3-bedroom is $1,493.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Spartanburg, 29302 ($1,513/mo), costs 24% more than the cheapest, 29306 ($1,219/mo).
Gaffney, 16 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,045/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Spartanburg. 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
Spartanburg, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 32.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Spartanburg, SC has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Spartanburg, SC has shifted from $1,058 to $1,374, up 29.9% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $45,228 in 2021 to $51,964 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Spartanburg, SC adding about 920 residents over the five-year window, up 2.4% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Spartanburg, SC market of 2021.
Discussions about Spartanburg
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Can you afford rent in Spartanburg on your salary?
At $1,374/mo, how Spartanburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Spartanburg rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Spartanburg. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Spartanburg
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Spartanburg is $1,374/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,052/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,212/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,092/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,493/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($51,964/yr), Spartanburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which Spartanburg neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Spartanburg rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Spartanburg?
At $1,374/mo, rent takes ~32% of Spartanburg's median household income ($51,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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