ZIP Code · SC

ZIP 29486

Part of Summerville, SC

Pop. 53,975·Berkeley County·21st most expensive ZIP in South Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,935/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

+$3

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 29486 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 29486 · $1,935

More expensive than 58% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,610

1 BR

$1,690

2 BR

$1,850

3 BR

$2,300

4 BR+

$2,650

Research median

$1,850/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 29486 usually run 1% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in August, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 29486 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in ZIP 29486 changed +4.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($89,578) is $2,239 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,850); a 3-bedroom is $2,300.

Rank in Summerville

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Summerville.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 29485, 1 mile away, rents for 10% less ($1,733/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29486. 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.

Annual cost

$23,220/yr

At $1,935/mo median

Location

CitySummerville

StateSC

CountyBerkeley County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 29486 (Summerville, SC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 34.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

53,975

Median income

$89,578

Median age

35.6

Renters

22%

Age distribution

25.1%

23.9%

26.2%

13.9%

Under 1825.1%

18–3423.9%

35–5426.2%

55–6410.9%

65+13.9%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

65.2%

18%

White65.2%

Black18%

Hispanic10.6%

Asian3.1%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

24.6%

31.9%

34.3%

No HS diploma9.2%

HS diploma24.6%

Some college31.9%

Bachelor's+34.3%

Housing tenure

78%

22%

Owner78%

Renter22%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 29486 in Summerville, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,493 → $1,935

up 29.6%

Income

$78,453 → $89,578

up 14.2%

Population

40,118 → 53,975

up 34.5%

Renter share

22.3% → 22%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

27.4% → 34.3%

+6.9 pts

Median age

36.3 → 35.6

-0.7 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 29486 in Summerville, SC paid around $1,493 a month. That figure now sits near $1,935, up 29.6% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $78,453 to $89,578 across the same window, up 14.2% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 29486 in Summerville, SC adding about 13,857 residents over the five-year window, up 34.5% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.4% to 34.3% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 29486 in Summerville, SC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 29486

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 29486

About renting in ZIP 29486

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 29486 covers Summerville, SC. The median rent here is $1,935/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,690/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,850/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($89,578/yr), ZIP 29486 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 29486?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,935/mo in ZIP 29486. The local median household income is $89,578/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 29486?

Rent in ZIP 29486 has risen 4.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 29486?

Asking rents in ZIP 29486 are usually lowest in December, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $29 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 29486 compare to other ZIPs in South Carolina?

ZIP 29486 is one of the pricier among South Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #21 of 117 at $1,935/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 29486 changed +4.5%, against a typical +3.4% across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.