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City · 18,072 residents · Pickens County, South Carolina

Clemson , South Carolina

In Clemson, a typical home is worth $398,400 and typical rent is $1,007 a month. Compared with all of Pickens County, the typical home value is 72% higher, typical household income is 19% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 37 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $398,400

    72% above the county

    54% above South Carolina

    • Clemson
    • Pickens
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,007a month

    4% above the county

    15% below South Carolina

    • Clemson
    • Pickens
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $49,520a year

    19% below the county

    29% below South Carolina

    • Clemson
    • Pickens
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    34%

    37 points below the county

    38 points below South Carolina

    • Clemson
    • Pickens
    • South Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$410,902
1.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,482 a month
11.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Clemson is in Pickens County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Pickens County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Clemson apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 34% of households in Clemson own their home, against 71% in Pickens County.

  2. The typical home in Clemson is worth $398,400, 72% more than in Pickens County as a whole ($231,900).

  3. Nearby, in Anderson, the typical home value is $218,200: 45% less than in Clemson ($398,400).

  4. Nearby, in Seneca, the typical rent is $807: 20% less than in Clemson ($1,007).

  5. The typical household income in Clemson is $49,520, 19% less than in Pickens County as a whole ($61,064).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Clemson

What homes there are in Clemson, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Clemson are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 39%, against 63% in Pickens County.

Year built

In Clemson, half of the homes were built before 1989; in Pickens County, before 1989.

There are fewer big homes in Clemson than in Pickens County: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 68%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,017 a month

Pickens County: $1,391 a month

Without a mortgage

$455 a month

Pickens County: $391 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Pickens County: 53%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Clemson is $2,017 a month, more than in Pickens County ($1,391); without one, $455.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Clemson gained value faster than in Pickens County: 69% against 57%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Clemson did not change clearly, according to the Census.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureClemsonPickens CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.0%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.4%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.272.412.442.53
Drive alone 70%79%76%69%
Carpool 10%8%9%9%
Public transit 4%1%0%3%
Walk or bike 7%2%2%3%
Work from home 10%10%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Clemson are smaller: 2.27 people on average; in Pickens County, 2.41.

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 7%, more than in Pickens County (2%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Clemson?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Clemson, worth $398,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 76% of the typical household income in Clemson, which is $49,520 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $135,068 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Pickens County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Clemson. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,944 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,152

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$391,184
Total interest
$562,822
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,728 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,155 a month

  • Tight

    $1,155 to $1,486 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,486 a month

    Your payment · 76%

Compared with the typical household income in Clemson ($49,520 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,152
Principal & interest$2,650
Property tax$159
Home insurance$166
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$176

You need at least $13,944 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Clemson and Pickens County

Clemson is in Pickens County, South Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Clemson's own numbers

Typical home value
$398,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,007
Typical yearly household income
$49,520
Households that own their home
34%
Effective property tax rate
0.48%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Pickens County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,507
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Pickens County.

Everything about Pickens County

Buying

Buying a home in Clemson

A typical home in Clemson is worth $398,400: 72% above the county and 54% above South Carolina. With the typical household income in Clemson ($49,520 a year), a typical home costs 8.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Clemson 8.0 years
  • Pickens 3.8 years
  • South Carolina 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Pickens County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Pickens County rose 110% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Pickens County.

Period County South Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.0% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +110% +104% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Clemson next to Pickens County, South Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Clemson $398,400
  • Pickens $231,900
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Clemson $1,007
  • Pickens $972
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Clemson $49,520
  • Pickens $61,064
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Clemson next to Pickens County and South Carolina
Measure Clemson Pickens County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $398,400 $231,900 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,007 $972 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,520 $61,064 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 34% 71% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,912 $866 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.48% 0.37% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 60% 56% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Pickens County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Clemson

For a typical $398,400 home in Clemson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Clemson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,152a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,944
    Cash to close
    $25,896
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $176

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,079a month

    Down payment
    $19,920
    Cash to close
    $31,872
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $189

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,484a month

    Down payment
    $79,680
    Cash to close
    $91,632
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,853a month

    Down payment
    $59,760
    Cash to close
    $71,712
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Clemson and for Pickens County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Clemson

0.48%of the home’s value each year

$1,912 a year for the typical owner in Clemson.

  • Clemson 0.48%
  • Pickens 0.37%
  • South Carolina 0.48%

What South Carolina publishes Special 4% assessment ratio for your legal residence (South Carolina General Assembly (South Carolina Code of Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in South Carolina

Flood risk in Pickens County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Pickens County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
182
Of those, with NFIP insurance
27%
County South Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 27% 85% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Clemson

Typical rent in Clemson is $1,007 a month: 4% above the county. In Clemson, 60% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Pickens County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,507 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.98 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Pickens County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,329 $25.56 $53,160
1 bedroom $1,384 $26.62 $55,360
2 bedrooms $1,507 $28.98 $60,280
3 bedrooms $1,801 $34.63 $72,040
4 bedrooms $2,124 $40.85 $84,960

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Clemson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Clemson is in ZIP code 29631.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,290: $217 less than the fair market rent for Pickens County ($1,507).

  • 29631 $1,290$1,540

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Clemson when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Clemson

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Clemson.

  • Creekwood Village, ALP 201 West Ln, Clemson 29631 76 low-income homes · For families (864) 654-3385

See all 20 buildings in Pickens County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Clemson

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Pickens County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Clemson

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Clemson or Pickens County. The ones below are statewide in South Carolina: they work in Clemson the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in South Carolina

  • Palmetto Home Advantage

    Statewide in South Carolina

    South Carolina state agency program with forgivable down payment assistance of 0%, 3% or 4% of the loan, with no monthly payments, for any buyer in all 46 counties. Offered by SC Housing (South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • SC Housing Homebuyer Program

    Statewide in South Carolina

    South Carolina state agency fixed-rate mortgage with forgivable help for the down payment, closing costs or prepaid expenses: a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments, forgiven if you live in the home 15 years. Offered by SC Housing (South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Clemson

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Clemson, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Greenville County Human Relations Commission

    301 University Rdg, Greenville · 26 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (864) 467-7095

  • Telamon Corporation - Greenville Branch

    300A S Daniel Morgan Ave, Spartanburg · 53 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (919) 899-9911

  • Regenesis Community Development Corporation F/K/A Upstate Housing Partnership

    430 E Main St, Spartanburg · 54 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (864) 504-3090

All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near Clemson

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Clemson

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Pickens County is named for Clemson or Pickens County.

One other authority has an office in Pickens County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Pickens County

These cities are also in Pickens County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Pickens County Housing in South Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Clemson, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Pickens County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Clemson.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Clemson

Short answers with the numbers for Clemson and all of Pickens County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Clemson?

The typical home value in Clemson is $398,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Pickens County it is $231,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Clemson?

Typical rent in Clemson is $1,007 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Pickens County is $1,507.

What is the FHA loan limit in Clemson?

Clemson uses the FHA limit for all of Pickens County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Clemson?

The typical homeowner in Clemson pays $1,912 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.48% of the home’s value; in Pickens County, the rate is 0.37%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Clemson?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Pickens County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).