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City · 6,120 residents · Darlington County, South Carolina

Darlington , South Carolina

In Darlington, a typical home is worth $172,300 and typical rent is $840 a month. Compared with all of Darlington County, typical household income is 30% lower, the typical home value is 9% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $172,300

    9% above the county

    33% below South Carolina

    • Darlington
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $840a month

    6% below the county

    29% below South Carolina

    • Darlington
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $33,952a year

    30% below the county

    51% below South Carolina

    • Darlington
    • County
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    52%

    19 points below the county

    20 points below South Carolina

    • Darlington
    • County
    • South Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$157,362
10.1% more than 12 months ago

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

Darlington is in Darlington 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 Darlington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Darlington apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Bennettsville, the typical home value is $92,100: 47% less than in Darlington ($172,300).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Darlington rose 10.1%; in South Carolina, it rose 0.9%.

  3. Darlington has the 4th lowest typical household income of the 101 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($33,952).

  4. 52% of households in Darlington own their home, against 71% in Darlington County.

  5. Darlington has the 5th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 93 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people (71%).

  6. Nearby, in Dillon, the typical rent is $630: 25% less than in Darlington ($840).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Darlington

What homes there are in Darlington, 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

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 71% of homes here, against 63% in Darlington County.

Year built

The typical home in Darlington was built in 1967, 17 years before the typical one in Darlington County.

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

The FHA limit for Darlington County is high ($541,287): at least 92% of owner-occupied homes in Darlington are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 76% of rented homes in Darlington cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Darlington County ($1,093).

With a mortgage

$1,342 a month

Darlington County: $1,222 a month

Without a mortgage

$462 a month

Darlington County: $387 a month

Owners with a mortgage

49%

Darlington County: 43%

Owning costs more in Darlington: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,342 a month; in Darlington County, $1,222. Without one, $462.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Darlington rose 60%; in Darlington County, it rose 71%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Darlington rose 38%, more than in Darlington County (33%).

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

MeasureDarlingtonDarlington CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.8%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.262.402.442.53
Drive alone 80%82%76%69%
Carpool 14%9%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate5%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate3%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Darlington has 2.26 people, fewer than in Darlington County (2.40).

More people carpool to work in Darlington than in Darlington County: 14% against 9%.

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 Darlington?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Darlington, worth $172,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 48% of the typical household income in Darlington, which is $33,952 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $58,660 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Darlington. 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 $6,031 (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

$1,369

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$169,179
Total interest
$243,408
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,910 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $792 a month

  • Tight

    $792 to $1,019 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,019 a month

    Your payment · 48%

Compared with the typical household income in Darlington ($33,952 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,369
Principal & interest$1,146
Property tax$75
Home insurance$72
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$76

You need at least $6,031 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

Darlington and Darlington County

Darlington is in Darlington 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).

Darlington's own numbers

Typical home value
$172,300
Typical monthly rent
$840
Typical yearly household income
$33,952
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
0.52%

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

Numbers for all of Darlington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,093
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+41%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%

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 Darlington County.

Everything about Darlington County

Buying

Buying a home in Darlington

A typical home in Darlington is worth $172,300: 9% above the county and 33% below South Carolina. With the typical household income in Darlington ($33,952 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 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.

  • Darlington 5.1 years
  • County 3.3 years
  • South Carolina 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Darlington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Darlington County rose 59% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County South Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.5% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +41% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +59% +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

Darlington next to Darlington 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
  • Darlington $172,300
  • County $158,200
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Darlington $840
  • County $896
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Darlington $33,952
  • County $48,581
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Darlington next to Darlington County and South Carolina
Measure Darlington Darlington County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $172,300 $158,200 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $840 $896 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $33,952 $48,581 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 52% 71% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $894 $652 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.52% 0.41% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 71% 56% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Darlington 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 Darlington

For a typical $172,300 home in Darlington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Darlington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,369a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,031
    Cash to close
    $11,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $76

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,337a month

    Down payment
    $8,615
    Cash to close
    $13,784
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $82

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,080a month

    Down payment
    $34,460
    Cash to close
    $39,629
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,240a month

    Down payment
    $25,845
    Cash to close
    $31,014
    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 Darlington and for Darlington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Darlington

0.52%of the home’s value each year

$894 a year for the typical owner in Darlington.

  • Darlington 0.52%
  • County 0.41%
  • 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 Darlington County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.6%
165
Of those, with NFIP insurance
21%
County South Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.6% 4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 21% 85% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Darlington

Typical rent in Darlington is $840 a month: 6% below the county. In Darlington, 71% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Darlington County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,093 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.02 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Darlington 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 $868 $16.69 $34,720
1 bedroom $874 $16.81 $34,960
2 bedrooms $1,093 $21.02 $43,720
3 bedrooms $1,302 $25.04 $52,080
4 bedrooms $1,523 $29.29 $60,920

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 Darlington

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Darlington is in ZIP code 29532.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,100: $7 more than the fair market rent for Darlington County ($1,093).

  • 29532 $1,100$1,310

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Darlington 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 Darlington

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Darlington. These are the largest.

  • Pine Village 206 King Edwards St, Darlington 29532 168 homes, 167 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Darlington · Average payment: $390 a month · Average wait: 15 months (843) 393-0436
  • Springfield Apts 100 Springfield Cir, Darlington 29532 71 low-income homes · 1 bd: 28 · 2 bd: 43 · In service since 1995 · For people with disabilities
  • Carolina Pointe fka Brockington Heights 201 Saleeby Loop, Darlington 29532 50 low-income homes · For families (843) 395-1261
  • Indian Creek 415 N Main St, Darlington 29532 50 low-income homes · For families (843) 669-4163
  • New Swift Creek Villa Apartments 411 Wells St, Darlington 29532 48 low-income homes · For families (843) 393-5112

See all 17 buildings in Darlington County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Darlington

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 Darlington County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Darlington

1 program is for Darlington or Darlington County, by its own record: they come first, each with what its official page says about being open. The ones below are statewide in South Carolina: they work in Darlington the same as in the rest of the state.

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

  • County First Initiative

    For Darlington County

    South Carolina state agency rural initiative for certain counties: an FHA, USDA or VA mortgage at a special fixed rate with forgivable down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before. Offered by SC Housing (South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • 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 Darlington

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

  • City of Florence

    324 W Evans St, Florence · 9 miles away

    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (843) 665-3175

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Columbia, SC

    810 Dutch Square Blvd Suite 220, Columbia · 73 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (803) 255-0223

  • Southeastern Housing & Community Development Fka Southeastern Housing Foundation

    986 Doyle St, Orangeburg · 80 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 3 more
    (803) 534-9950

All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near Darlington

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves 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 Darlington

HUD’s record names them for Darlington or Darlington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of Darlington Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (843) 393-0436

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

Cities

Other cities in Darlington County

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

Everything about Darlington County Housing in South Carolina

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Darlington 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 Darlington.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Darlington

Short answers with the numbers for Darlington and all of Darlington 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 Darlington?

The typical home value in Darlington is $172,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Darlington County it is $158,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Darlington?

Typical rent in Darlington is $840 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Darlington County is $1,093.

What is the FHA loan limit in Darlington?

Darlington uses the FHA limit for all of Darlington 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 Darlington?

The typical homeowner in Darlington pays $894 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.52% of the home’s value; in Darlington County, the rate is 0.41%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Darlington 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).