Rents are 5% below what Summerville'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 $1,892 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 Summerville usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in August, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Summerville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Summerville changed +5.4% 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 Summerville rose 40.2% while median household income rose 36.9% ($59,180 to $81,046). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Summerville is 45.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,046) is $2,026 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,743); a 3-bedroom is $2,160.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Summerville, 29486 ($1,935/mo), costs 12% more than the cheapest, 29485 ($1,733/mo).
Ladson, 4 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,665/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Summerville. 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
Summerville, SC is majority owner-occupied, 33.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Summerville, SC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Summerville, SC stood at $1,412 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,892, reflecting a 34.0% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $81,046 today, compared with $64,507 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 2.7% since 2021, moving from about 50,318 residents to roughly 51,654. Renters now make up 30.9% of households, compared with 34.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 33.5% of adults here, versus 30.1% 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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Can you afford rent in Summerville on your salary?
At $1,892/mo, how Summerville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Summerville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Summerville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Summerville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Summerville is $1,892/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,517/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,743/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,577/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,160/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($81,046/yr), Summerville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Summerville rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Summerville?
At $1,892/mo, rent takes ~28% of Summerville's median household income ($81,046/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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