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City · 51,654 residents · Dorchester County, South Carolina

Summerville , South Carolina

In Summerville, a typical home is worth $328,100 and typical rent is $1,526 a month. Compared with all of Dorchester County, the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $328,100

    About the same as the county

    27% above South Carolina

    • Summerville
    • Dorchester
    • South Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,526a month

    4% above the county

    29% above South Carolina

    • Summerville
    • Dorchester
    • South Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $81,046a year

    4% above the county

    17% above South Carolina

    • Summerville
    • Dorchester
    • South Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    69%

    6 points below the county

    3 points below South Carolina

    • Summerville
    • Dorchester
    • South Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$379,971
0.5% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,892 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

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

Summerville is in Dorchester County. The FHA loan limit ($690,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Dorchester County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Summerville apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Ladson, the typical home value is $234,900: 28% less than in Summerville ($328,100).

  2. 69% of households in Summerville own their home, against 76% in Dorchester County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Summerville

What homes there are in Summerville, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Summerville, but it weighs less than in Dorchester County: 64% against 67%.

Year built

By age, homes in Summerville look like those in Dorchester County: the typical year built is 2001.

There are fewer big homes in Summerville than in Dorchester County: 71% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 77%.

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 loan limit for Dorchester County is $690,000, and about 93% of owner-occupied homes in Summerville are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,694 a month

Dorchester County: $1,790 a month

Without a mortgage

$575 a month

Dorchester County: $526 a month

Owners with a mortgage

72%

Dorchester County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Summerville is $1,694 a month, less than in Dorchester County ($1,790); without one, $575.

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 Summerville rose 58% since 2015–2019, less than in Dorchester County (66%).

Rents in Summerville rose faster than in Dorchester County: 38% since 2015–2019, against 33%.

The typical household income in Summerville rose 37% over that time; home values changed +58% and rent +38%.

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

MeasureSummervilleDorchester CountySouth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 9.2%8.3%8.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.7%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.412.612.442.53
Drive alone 80%78%76%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 11%11%12%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Dorchester County, the rental vacancy rate in Summerville is 9.2%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.41 on average, against 2.61 in Dorchester County.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Summerville drive alone; in Dorchester County, 78%.

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 Summerville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Summerville, worth $328,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Summerville, which is $81,046 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $112,523 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Summerville. 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 $11,484 (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

$2,626

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$322,157
Total interest
$463,508
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,541 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,891 a month

  • Tight

    $1,891 to $2,431 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,431 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Summerville ($81,046 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,626
Principal & interest$2,182
Property tax$161
Home insurance$137
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$145

You need at least $11,484 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

Summerville and Dorchester County

Summerville is in Dorchester 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).

Summerville's own numbers

Typical home value
$328,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,526
Typical yearly household income
$81,046
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
0.59%

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

Numbers for all of Dorchester County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$690,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,884
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.2%

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 Dorchester County.

Everything about Dorchester County

Buying

Buying a home in Summerville

A typical home in Summerville is worth $328,100: about the same as the county and 27% above South Carolina. With the typical household income in Summerville ($81,046 a year), a typical home costs 4.0 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.

  • Summerville 4.0 years
  • Dorchester 4.2 years
  • South Carolina 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Dorchester County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Dorchester County rose 114% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County South Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.8% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +114% +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

Summerville next to Dorchester 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
  • Summerville $328,100
  • Dorchester $329,300
  • South Carolina $259,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Summerville $1,526
  • Dorchester $1,463
  • South Carolina $1,180
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Summerville $81,046
  • Dorchester $78,198
  • South Carolina $69,324
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Summerville next to Dorchester County and South Carolina
Measure Summerville Dorchester County South Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $328,100 $329,300 $259,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,526 $1,463 $1,180 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $81,046 $78,198 $69,324 $80,734
Households that own their home 69% 76% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,946 $1,851 $1,251 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.59% 0.56% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 56% 52% 51%

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

For a typical $328,100 home in Summerville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Summerville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,626a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,484
    Cash to close
    $21,327
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $145

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,565a month

    Down payment
    $16,405
    Cash to close
    $26,248
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $156

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,076a month

    Down payment
    $65,620
    Cash to close
    $75,463
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,379a month

    Down payment
    $49,215
    Cash to close
    $59,058
    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 Summerville and for Dorchester County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Summerville

0.59%of the home’s value each year

$1,946 a year for the typical owner in Summerville.

  • Summerville 0.59%
  • Dorchester 0.56%
  • 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 Dorchester County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.2%
1,754
Of those, with NFIP insurance
71%
County South Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.2% 4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 71% 85% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Summerville

Typical rent in Summerville is $1,526 a month: 4% above the county. In Summerville, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Dorchester County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,884 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.23 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Dorchester 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 $1,661 $31.94 $66,440
1 bedroom $1,731 $33.29 $69,240
2 bedrooms $1,884 $36.23 $75,360
3 bedrooms $2,336 $44.92 $93,440
4 bedrooms $2,687 $51.67 $107,480

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 Summerville

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

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,580 in 29483 to $1,860 in 29485.

None is above the fair market rent for Dorchester County ($1,884).

  • 29483 $1,580$1,960
  • 29485 $1,860$2,310

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

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Summerville. These are the largest.

  • Canebreak, A LP 1300 Central Ave, Summerville 29483 120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 32 · In service since 2005 · For families (843) 873-0435
  • Haven Oaks Apts 523 Orangeburg Rd, Summerville 29483 104 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2009 · For families (843) 875-1890
  • Redemption Towers 300 Springview Ln, Summerville 29485 96 homes, 95 low-income · For older adults (843) 871-6011
  • Azalea Park Apts 527 Orangeburg Rd, Summerville 29483 64 low-income homes · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 32 · In service since 2003 · For families
  • Boone West Apartments 1310 Boone Hill Rd, Summerville 29483 62 low-income homes · For families (843) 851-3241

See all 21 buildings in Dorchester County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Summerville

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

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Summerville

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Summerville or Dorchester County. The ones below are statewide in South Carolina: they work in Summerville 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 Summerville

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

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

    8570 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 8 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Origin SC

    8084 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 9 miles away

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

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Charleston, SC

    7301 Rivers Ave, North Charleston · 10 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (425) 602-6222

All counseling agencies in South Carolina

Help in Spanish near Summerville

2 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 Summerville

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Dorchester County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in South Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Dorchester County Housing in South Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Dorchester 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 Summerville.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Summerville

Short answers with the numbers for Summerville and all of Dorchester 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 Summerville?

The typical home value in Summerville is $328,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Dorchester County it is $329,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Summerville?

Typical rent in Summerville is $1,526 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Dorchester County is $1,884.

What is the FHA loan limit in Summerville?

Summerville uses the FHA limit for all of Dorchester County (2026): $690,000 for a one-unit home and $1,326,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Summerville?

The typical homeowner in Summerville pays $1,946 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.59% of the home’s value; in Dorchester County, the rate is 0.56%.

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

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