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City · 23,796 residents · Horry County, South Carolina

Socastee , South Carolina

In Socastee, a typical home is worth $234,200 and typical rent is $1,246 a month. Compared with all of Horry County, the typical home value is 19% lower, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $234,200

    19% below the county

    10% below South Carolina

    • Socastee
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,246a month

    About the same as the county

    6% above South Carolina

    • Socastee
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $62,257a year

    7% below the county

    10% below South Carolina

    • Socastee
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    66%

    11 points below the county

    6 points below South Carolina

    • Socastee
    • Horry
    • South Carolina

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

Socastee 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 Socastee apart

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

  1. The typical home in Socastee is worth $234,200, 19% less than in Horry County as a whole ($287,700).

  2. 66% of households in Socastee own their home, against 77% in Horry County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Socastee

What homes there are in Socastee, 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 Socastee, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Horry County, 5.

Year built

In Socastee, half of the homes were built before 1995; in Horry County, before 1999.

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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Socastee sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,358 a month

Horry County: $1,446 a month

Without a mortgage

$410 a month

Horry County: $481 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

Horry County: 55%

Owning costs less in Socastee: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,358 a month; in Horry County, $1,446. Without one, $410.

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 Socastee rose 42%; in Horry County, it rose 59%.

Rents in Socastee rose more slowly than in Horry County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 24%, while home values changed +42% and rent +28%.

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

MeasureSocasteeHorry 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 2.602.372.442.53
Drive alone 80%77%76%69%
Carpool 9%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 9%11%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate3%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.60 on average, against 2.37 in Horry County.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Socastee drive alone; 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 Socastee?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Socastee, worth $234,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Socastee, which is $62,257 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $78,062 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 Socastee. 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 $8,197 (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

$1,821

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$229,958
Total interest
$330,856
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,955 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,453 a month

  • Tight

    $1,453 to $1,868 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $1,868 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Socastee ($62,257 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,821
Principal & interest$1,558
Property tax$62
Home insurance$98
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$104

You need at least $8,197 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

Socastee and Horry County

Socastee 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).

Socastee's own numbers

Typical home value
$234,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,246
Typical yearly household income
$62,257
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.32%

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 Socastee

A typical home in Socastee is worth $234,200: 19% below the county and 10% below South Carolina. With the typical household income in Socastee ($62,257 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 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.

  • Socastee 3.8 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

Socastee 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
  • Socastee $234,200
  • Horry $287,700
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Socastee $1,246
  • Horry $1,255
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Socastee $62,257
  • Horry $66,880
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Socastee next to Horry County and South Carolina
Measure Socastee Horry County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $234,200 $287,700 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,246 $1,255 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,257 $66,880 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 66% 77% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $754 $944 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.32% 0.33% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 44% 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 Socastee

For a typical $234,200 home in Socastee, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Socastee's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,821a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,197
    Cash to close
    $15,223
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $104

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,779a month

    Down payment
    $11,710
    Cash to close
    $18,736
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $111

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,429a month

    Down payment
    $46,840
    Cash to close
    $53,866
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,646a month

    Down payment
    $35,130
    Cash to close
    $42,156
    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 Socastee and for Horry County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Socastee

0.32%of the home’s value each year

$754 a year for the typical owner in Socastee.

  • Socastee 0.32%
  • 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 Socastee

Typical rent in Socastee is $1,246 a month: about the same as the county. In Socastee, 44% 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 Socastee

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Socastee is in ZIP code 29588.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,540: $36 more than the fair market rent for Horry County ($1,504).

  • 29588 $1,540$1,870

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

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.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Socastee

1 program is for Socastee 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 Socastee 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 Socastee

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Socastee, 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 · 56 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 · 78 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Origin SC

    8084 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 78 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 Socastee

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 Socastee

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

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Socastee

Short answers with the numbers for Socastee 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 Socastee?

The typical home value in Socastee is $234,200, 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 Socastee?

Typical rent in Socastee is $1,246 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 Socastee?

Socastee 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 Socastee?

The typical homeowner in Socastee pays $754 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.32% of the home’s value; in Horry County, the rate is 0.33%.

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

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).