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City Report · SC

Surfside Beach

Pop. 4,270·41st most expensive in South Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Surfside Beach, SC
Median rent (all units)
$1,607/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.0%
Month-over-Month
+1.8%
vs US Median
-$355
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Surfside Beach · $1,607
More affordable than 68% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
28% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,607/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$64,000/yr
Local median income
$70,106/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Surfside Beach's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,270
1 BR
$1,350
2 BR
$1,580
3 BR
$1,990
4 BR+
$2,320
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,580/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,607 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: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$19,284/yr
At $1,607/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (1.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.0% YoY, +1.8% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Surfside Beach, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 39.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
4,270
Median income
$70,106
Median age
55.5
Renters
32.5%
Age distribution
14.4%
22.8%
21.9%
28.9%
Under 1812%
18–3414.4%
35–5422.8%
55–6421.9%
65+28.9%
Gender
50.7%
49.3%
Male50.7%
Female49.3%
Race & ethnicity
92.4%
White92.4%
Black1.5%
Hispanic0.6%
Asian0.6%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
24.8%
32.4%
39.5%
No HS diploma3.4%
HS diploma24.8%
Some college32.4%
Bachelor's+39.5%
Housing tenure
67.5%
32.5%
Owner67.5%
Renter32.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Surfside Beach, SC has changed in 5 years

Income
$61,840 → $70,106
up 13.4%
Population
4,155 → 4,270
up 2.8%
Renter share
38.8% → 32.5%
-6.3 pts
Bachelor's+
38.2% → 39.5%
+1.3 pts
Median age
51.5 → 55.5
+4.0 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $61,840 in 2021 to $70,106 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 4,155 to 4,270 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.8% change. About 32.5% of households rent today, against 38.8% in 2021.

Community

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View Surfside Beach rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Surfside Beach on your salary?

At $1,607/mo, how Surfside Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Surfside Beach rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Surfside Beach

About renting in Surfside Beach, SC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Surfside Beach is $1,607/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,270/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,990/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($70,106/yr), Surfside Beach ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Surfside Beach an affordable city for renters?

Surfside Beach is considered affordable for renters. At $1,607/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($70,106/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Surfside Beach falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Surfside Beach?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (~$31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,607/mo in Surfside Beach. The local median household income is $70,106/yr, meaning the typical Surfside Beach household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Surfside Beach?

Rent in Surfside Beach has increased 1.0% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Surfside Beach rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Surfside Beach is middle-of-the-pack for South Carolina for rent, ranking #41 out of 67 tracked cities at $1,607/mo.

What percentage of Surfside Beach residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 32.5% of Surfside Beach households are renters, while 67.5% are owner-occupied. Surfside Beach leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Surfside Beach rent compare to the national average?

Surfside Beach's median rent of $1,607/mo is $355 (18%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within South Carolina, it ranks #41 out of 67 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
28%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,607/mo, rent takes ~28% of Surfside Beach's median household income ($70,106/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Surfside Beach 28%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3–6.2%
Run the Surfside Beach affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Surfside Beach
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Surfside Beach, SC

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