RentalCalcs
ToolsMarket MapMy DealsPricingBlog
RentalCalcs

Professional real estate investment calculators to help you analyze deals faster and make confident investment decisions.

Product

  • Tools
  • Market Map
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • About

Top Markets

  • Maricopa County, AZ
  • Harris County, TX
  • San Diego County, CA
  • Miami-Dade County, FL
  • Dallas County, TX
  • Clark County, NV
  • Cook County, IL
  • Tarrant County, TX
  • Wayne County, MI
  • Orange County, CA
  • Browse All Markets →

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2026 RentalCalcs. All rights reserved.

Market MapSouth CarolinaCharleston

Charleston County

South CarolinaPopulation: 409,840
39
/100
Avoid
#0 of 0 counties
#38 in South Carolina (46 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs Research·Independent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated May 18, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$615,257
Median Home Price
0% below national median
$2,105/mo
Median Rent
0% below national median
4.11%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 50% nationally
-$1,857
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $2,105/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$461,442-$1,051/mo3.6%-11.9%
Median
typical MLS deal
$615,257-$1,857/mo2.7%-15.8%
125% of median
newer / premium
$769,071-$2,664/mo2.1%-18.1%

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$615,257
Down Payment (20%)$123,051
Loan Amount$492,206
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,105
Monthly P&I-$3,225
Est. Expenses (35%)-$737
Net Cash Flow-$1,857/mo
2.7%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-15.8%
Cash-on-Cash Return
4.11%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.7% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
39/100
39
Cash Flow(30%)
32/100

Based on 4.11% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
53/100

Based on 0.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
16/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,857/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 2.7% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
  • -High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging

Economic Indicators

Population
409,840
Median Income
—
Data pending
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
—
Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
  • −You rely on FHA-style financing: prices are stretched relative to local incomes
  • −You want a market with broad institutional consensus on fundamentals

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
MarionSC
40$137,378Est. pending—AvoidView
BarnwellSC
40$150,265Est. pending—AvoidView
CurrentCharlestonSC
39$615,257$2,1054.11%Avoid
JasperSC
38$401,192$1,8085.41%AvoidView
LeeSC
38$140,614Est. pending—AvoidView
HamptonSC
37$149,786Est. pending—AvoidView

The Bottom Line

AvoidCharleston may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Charleston County in South Carolina scores 39/100, ranking #0 of 0 US counties (top 50%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $1857/month; the 4.11% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-1,857/mo
Cap Rate
2.7%
Cash-on-Cash
-15.8%

Related markets

Markets like Charleston with stronger cash flow

  • Jasper County for cash-flow rentals

Cheaper alternatives to Charleston

  • Marion County, lower entry price
  • Lee County, lower entry price
  • Hampton County, lower entry price

Head-to-head comparisons

  • Charleston vs Marion for rentals
  • Charleston vs Jasper for rentals
  • Charleston vs Barnwell for rentals
All counties in South Carolina →

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Charleston?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRRHouse HackOwner-occupied strategyMultifamily5+ unit properties
Explore Other Markets