ZIP Code · SC

ZIP 29801

Part of Aiken, SC

Pop. 31,108·Aiken County·87th most expensive ZIP in South Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,492/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

-$440

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 29801 · $1,492

More affordable than 74% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$950

1 BR

$1,130

2 BR

$1,280

3 BR

$1,650

4 BR+

$2,010

Research median

$1,280/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 29801 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of South Carolina

Rent in ZIP 29801 changed +3.0% 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 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,573) is $1,489 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,280); a 3-bedroom is $1,650.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 29803, 8 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,251/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 29801. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,904/yr

At $1,492/mo median

Location

CityAiken

StateSC

CountyAiken County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 29801 (Aiken, SC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

31,108

Median income

$59,573

Median age

40.9

Renters

33.2%

Age distribution

19.6%

21.8%

25.3%

12.1%

21.1%

Under 1819.6%

18–3421.8%

35–5425.3%

55–6412.1%

65+21.1%

Gender

45.4%

54.6%

Male45.4%

Female54.6%

Race & ethnicity

50.9%

41.6%

White50.9%

Black41.6%

Hispanic5.6%

Asian1.1%

Other0.9%

Education (25+)

13.5%

31.8%

24.9%

29.7%

No HS diploma13.5%

HS diploma31.8%

Some college24.9%

Bachelor's+29.7%

Housing tenure

66.8%

33.2%

Owner66.8%

Renter33.2%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 29801 in Aiken, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,148 → $1,492

up 30.0%

Income

$45,682 → $59,573

up 30.4%

Population

28,970 → 31,108

up 7.4%

Renter share

41% → 33.2%

-7.8 pts

Bachelor's+

23.9% → 29.7%

+5.8 pts

Median age

39.4 → 40.9

+1.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 29801 in Aiken, SC paid around $1,148 a month. That figure now sits near $1,492, up 30.0% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $45,682 in 2021 to $59,573 more recently. Census counts show ZIP 29801 in Aiken, SC adding about 2,138 residents over the five-year window, up 7.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 41% to 33.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 23.9% to 29.7% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 29801 in Aiken, SC market of 2022.

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About renting in ZIP 29801

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 29801 covers Aiken, SC. The median rent here is $1,492/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,130/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,280/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($59,573/yr), ZIP 29801 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 29801?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $60,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,492/mo in ZIP 29801. The local median household income is $59,573/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 29801?

Rent in ZIP 29801 has risen 3.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

How does ZIP 29801 compare to other ZIPs in South Carolina?

ZIP 29801 is one of the more affordable among South Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #87 of 117 at $1,492/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 29801 changed +3.0%, against a typical +3.4% across the 101 South Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.