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City · 11,591 residents · Horry County, South Carolina

Garden City , South Carolina

In Garden City, a typical home is worth $217,400 and typical rent is $1,472 a month. Compared with all of Horry County, typical household income is 29% lower, the typical home value is 24% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $217,400

    24% below the county

    16% below South Carolina

    • Garden City
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,472a month

    17% above the county

    25% above South Carolina

    • Garden City
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $47,249a year

    29% below the county

    32% below South Carolina

    • Garden City
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    85%

    8 points above the county

    13 points above South Carolina

    • Garden City
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

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

Garden City is in Horry 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 Horry County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Garden City apart

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

  1. Garden City has the smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 93 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people: 33%.

  2. The typical household income in Garden City is $47,249, 29% less than in Horry County as a whole ($66,880).

  3. The typical home in Garden City is worth $217,400, 24% less than in Horry County as a whole ($287,700).

  4. Nearby, in Socastee, the typical rent is $1,246: 15% less than in Garden City ($1,472).

  5. The typical rent in Garden City is $1,472 a month, 17% more than in Horry County as a whole ($1,255).

  6. Garden City has the 8th highest homeownership rate of the 101 cities in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people (85%).

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

The homes here

Housing in Garden City

What homes there are in Garden City, 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

In Garden City there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (34%); in Horry County, 53%.

Mobile homes are 33% of homes in Garden City, more than in Horry County (13%).

Year built

The typical home in Garden City was built in 1990, 9 years before the typical one in Horry County.

There are fewer big homes in Garden City than in Horry County: 58% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67%.

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

By price, most homes in Garden City sit under the FHA limit for Horry County ($541,287): about 92%.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,328 a month

Horry County: $1,446 a month

Without a mortgage

$607 a month

Horry County: $481 a month

Owners with a mortgage

43%

Horry County: 55%

Owning costs less in Garden City: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,328 a month; in Horry County, $1,446. Without one, $607.

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

The typical home value in Garden City rose 49% since 2015–2019, less than in Horry County (59%).

The typical rent in Garden City rose 39% over the same time; in Horry County, it rose 31%.

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

MeasureGarden CityHorry CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate19.2%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.2%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%2.0%3.4%
People per household 1.892.372.442.53
Drive alone 81%77%76%69%
Carpool 5%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 13%11%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate3%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Garden City has 1.89 people, fewer than in Horry County (2.37).

In Garden City, 81% of workers drive alone to work; in Horry County, 77%.

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 Garden City?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Garden City, worth $217,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 43% of the typical household income in Garden City, which is $47,249 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,617 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Garden City. 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 $7,609 (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

$1,694

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$213,462
Total interest
$307,122
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,671 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,102 a month

  • Tight

    $1,102 to $1,417 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,417 a month

    Your payment · 43%

Compared with the typical household income in Garden City ($47,249 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,694
Principal & interest$1,446
Property tax$62
Home insurance$91
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$96

You need at least $7,609 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

Garden City and Horry County

Garden City is in Horry 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).

Garden City's own numbers

Typical home value
$217,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,472
Typical yearly household income
$47,249
Households that own their home
85%
Effective property tax rate
0.34%

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

Numbers for all of Horry County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,504
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+65%

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 Horry County.

Everything about Horry County

Buying

Buying a home in Garden City

A typical home in Garden City is worth $217,400: 24% below the county and 16% below South Carolina. With the typical household income in Garden City ($47,249 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 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.

  • Garden City 4.6 years
  • Horry 4.3 years
  • South Carolina 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Horry County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Horry County rose 107% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County South Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.0% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +107% +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

Garden City next to Horry 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
  • Garden City $217,400
  • Horry $287,700
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Garden City $1,472
  • Horry $1,255
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Garden City $47,249
  • Horry $66,880
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Garden City next to Horry County and South Carolina
Measure Garden City Horry County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $217,400 $287,700 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,472 $1,255 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,249 $66,880 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 85% 77% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $749 $944 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.34% 0.33% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 33% 52% 52% 51%

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

For a typical $217,400 home in Garden City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Garden City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,694a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,609
    Cash to close
    $14,131
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $96

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,655a month

    Down payment
    $10,870
    Cash to close
    $17,392
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $103

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,330a month

    Down payment
    $43,480
    Cash to close
    $50,002
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,531a month

    Down payment
    $32,610
    Cash to close
    $39,132
    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 Garden City and for Horry County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Garden City

0.34%of the home’s value each year

$749 a year for the typical owner in Garden City.

  • Garden City 0.34%
  • Horry 0.33%
  • 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 Horry County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Horry County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Garden City

Typical rent in Garden City is $1,472 a month: 17% above the county. In Garden City, 33% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Horry County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,504 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.92 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Horry 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 $1,155 $22.21 $46,200
1 bedroom $1,258 $24.19 $50,320
2 bedrooms $1,504 $28.92 $60,160
3 bedrooms $1,823 $35.06 $72,920
4 bedrooms $1,981 $38.10 $79,240

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 Garden City

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Garden City has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,590 in 29575 to $1,720 in 29576.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Horry County ($1,504).

  • 29575 $1,590$1,930
  • 29576 $1,720$2,080

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Garden City 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Garden City

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

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Garden City

1 program is for Garden City or Horry 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 Garden City the same as in the rest of the state.

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

  • County First Initiative

    For Horry 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 Garden City

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Garden City, 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 · 61 miles away

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

  • Increasing H.o.p.e. Financial Training Center

    8570 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 74 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (843) 225-4343

  • Origin SC

    8084 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 74 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (843) 628-3000

All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near Garden City

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 Garden City

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Horry County is named for Garden City or Horry County.

3 other authorities have an office in Horry County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Horry County

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

Everything about Horry County Housing in South Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Garden City, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Horry 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 Garden City.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Garden City

Short answers with the numbers for Garden City and all of Horry 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 Garden City?

The typical home value in Garden City is $217,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Horry County it is $287,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Garden City?

Typical rent in Garden City is $1,472 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Horry County is $1,504.

What is the FHA loan limit in Garden City?

Garden City uses the FHA limit for all of Horry 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 Garden City?

The typical homeowner in Garden City pays $749 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.34% of the home’s value; in Horry County, the rate is 0.33%.

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

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