What is the average property tax rate in South Carolina?

Statewide, South Carolina's effective property-tax rate is 0.483% — the state median real-estate taxes ($1,251) divided by the state median home value ($259,000), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts South Carolina at #46 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.

Which South Carolina county has the highest property taxes?

By effective rate, Allendale County is highest in South Carolina at 0.878% (median bill $669), and Horry County is lowest at 0.328% (median bill $944). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.

What property tax exemptions are available in South Carolina?

A homestead exemption removes the first $50,000 of fair market value for owners 65+, totally/permanently disabled, or legally blind; disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and former POWs qualify for a home exemption; agricultural land gets the reduced use-value ratio above, with rollback taxes if the use changes. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.

How do I appeal a property tax assessment in South Carolina?

A taxpayer who objects to a real-property assessment must give written notice to the county assessor within 90 days of the assessment notice; after a conference, a further written protest is due within 30 days, and appeal to the County Board of Assessment Appeals follows the assessor's response. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.

How is property assessed in South Carolina?

Countywide reappraisal happens once every five years. Assessment RATIOS are fixed by property class: 4.0% of market value for a primary residence, 6.0% for other real estate, 4.0% of use value for agricultural land, and 10.5% for manufacturing property. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.

South Carolina property taxes by county

Statewide effective rate 0.483% · national rank #46 of 51 (1 = highest) · 46 county-equivalents · U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Across South Carolina, the median owner-occupied home pays $1,251 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $259,000 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.483%. That ranks South Carolina #46 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 46 South Carolina county-equivalents in the Census data — 46 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 13 of them also carry a full detail card here — every median with its Census margin of error, both rankings, the six nearest counties, and the five-year change. It also sets out how property tax actually works in South Carolina: how property is assessed, which exemptions exist and who qualifies, the deadline and body for an appeal, and the payment schedule and penalties — each hand-sourced from official South Carolina sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.

Statewide figures South Carolina · ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Effective tax rate: 0.483%
Median real-estate taxes: $1,251 ± $7
Median home value: $259,000
Median household income: $69,324
National rank: #46 of 51
County-equivalents: 46

How property tax varies across South Carolina

Across South Carolina's 46 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 0.878% in Allendale County down to 0.328% in Horry County — a 2.7× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.

The largest median real-estate tax bill in South Carolina is $2,174 in Beaufort County, which ranks #28 of 46 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 0.878%, is in Allendale County, where the median bill is $669. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.

Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 0 of South Carolina's 46 ranked counties sit above it and 46 below. South Carolina as a whole ranks #46 of 51 (1 = highest).

Median home value statewide is $259,000, but within South Carolina it ranges from $489,100 in Charleston County to $76,200 in Allendale County — the denominator of the effective rate, and the main reason two counties with similar bills can show very different rates.

Statewide, the median real-estate tax bill equals about 1.8% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Jasper County (2.8%) and lightest in Dillon County (1.0%).

Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 39 of South Carolina's 46 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 7.

Estimate a South Carolina property tax bill

South Carolina property-tax estimator

County

Home value (USD)

Estimated annual property tax: $1,651

Richland County, SC effective rate 0.674% × home value $245,000

See full Richland County property-tax data →

A median-based estimate, not a bill: home value × the county effective rate. It cannot know your exemptions, assessment ratio, special districts, or homestead caps.

A median-based estimate, not a quote, an assessment, or a tax bill — it cannot know your assessed value, exemptions, or special districts. How this is computed.

Every South Carolina county

All 46 South Carolina county-equivalents in the Census data (46 with a published effective rate). Click a column heading to sort. Counties in bold have a full detail card further down this page — margins of error, nearby counties, and their five-year trend.

Filter counties

South Carolina county-equivalents by effective property-tax rate (highest first). Median taxes, home value and income are U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates; the five-year change compares the non-overlapping 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 periods.

Allendale County	0.878%	$669	$752	$613	$76,200	$32,328	2.1%	#1	#1400	+68.9%
Bamberg County	0.829%	$811	$961	$703	$97,800	$44,370	1.8%	#2	#1510	+30%
Hampton County	0.801%	$897	$1,157	$729	$112,000	$44,711	2.0%	#3	#1583	+40.6%
Barnwell County	0.731%	$775	$1,076	$563	$106,000	$46,626	1.7%	#4	#1783	+22.2%
Richland County	0.674%	$1,637	$1,743	$1,380	$242,800	$63,784	2.6%	#5	#1980	+26.7%
Newberry County	0.666%	$1,154	$1,350	$972	$173,300	$61,780	1.9%	#6	#2016	+23.6%
Williamsburg County	0.657%	$687	$876	$578	$104,500	$46,213	1.5%	#7	#2048	+34.2%
Orangeburg County	0.647%	$749	$1,070	$573	$115,800	$45,675	1.6%	#8	#2086	+19.5%
Marlboro County	0.605%	$496	$758	$432	$82,000	$34,301	1.4%	#9	#2241	+30.2%
Lee County	0.573%	$599	$771	$488	$104,600	$44,760	1.3%	#10	#2365	+11.3%
Jasper County	0.569%	$1,852	$2,406	$1,199	$325,500	$65,613	2.8%	#11	#2376	+75%
Chester County	0.562%	$890	$1,095	$774	$158,300	$52,458	1.7%	#12	#2407	+31.7%
Dorchester County	0.562%	$1,851	$2,036	$1,355	$329,300	$78,198	2.4%	#13	#2409	+37.9%
McCormick County	0.562%	$948	$1,394	$781	$168,700	$55,798	1.7%	#14	#2411	+28.3%
Clarendon County	0.559%	$883	$1,096	$744	$158,000	$52,401	1.7%	#16	#2427	+40.4%
Union County	0.559%	$579	$730	$476	$103,600	$41,621	1.4%	#15	#2426	+8.2%
Colleton County	0.554%	$900	$1,233	$671	$162,500	$51,114	1.8%	#17	#2443	+56%
Spartanburg County	0.546%	$1,274	$1,422	$1,000	$233,300	$66,234	1.9%	#18	#2473	+43.3%
Greenwood County	0.534%	$964	$1,153	$765	$180,500	$52,830	1.8%	#19	#2520	+12.5%
Sumter County	0.533%	$881	$1,146	$575	$165,300	$56,693	1.6%	#20	#2523	+22.7%
Dillon County	0.529%	$452	$586	$374	$85,400	$46,605	1.0%	#21	#2534	+1.8%
Fairfield County	0.513%	$776	$1,131	$625	$151,200	$47,885	1.6%	#22	#2605	+38.6%
Saluda County	0.510%	$747	$1,204	$494	$146,500	$51,009	1.5%	#23	#2612	+7.5%
Greenville County	0.506%	$1,512	$1,648	$1,305	$299,000	$76,932	2.0%	#24	#2617	+24.4%
Lancaster County	0.502%	$1,657	$1,898	$1,131	$329,900	$78,869	2.1%	#25	#2633	+47.9%
Lexington County	0.491%	$1,151	$1,267	$882	$234,500	$77,408	1.5%	#26	#2659	+28.9%
York County	0.482%	$1,740	$1,934	$1,276	$361,300	$89,095	1.9%	#27	#2693	+44.2%
Beaufort County	0.477%	$2,174	$2,267	$1,993	$455,600	$86,573	2.5%	#28	#2711	+41.2%
Marion County	0.468%	$436	$646	$374	$93,200	$36,301	1.2%	#29	#2731	+12.1%
Kershaw County	0.467%	$1,013	$1,200	$722	$217,100	$68,231	1.5%	#30	#2740	+44.3%
Berkeley County	0.451%	$1,400	$1,580	$1,047	$310,300	$84,358	1.7%	#31	#2794	+40.6%
Anderson County	0.450%	$1,043	$1,245	$779	$231,900	$66,651	1.6%	#32	#2798	+30%
Abbeville County	0.437%	$782	$1,017	$555	$178,800	$52,935	1.5%	#33	#2836	+46.4%
Cherokee County	0.432%	$614	$799	$465	$142,000	$50,288	1.2%	#34	#2848	+21.1%
Edgefield County	0.432%	$875	$1,151	$669	$202,700	$73,029	1.2%	#35	#2851	+28.3%
Florence County	0.425%	$756	$932	$554	$177,900	$58,305	1.3%	#36	#2871	+32.9%
Chesterfield County	0.419%	$487	$710	$385	$116,200	$49,235	1.0%	#37	#2880	+30.2%
Darlington County	0.412%	$652	$812	$499	$158,200	$48,581	1.3%	#38	#2895	+61.8%
Aiken County	0.411%	$897	$1,061	$706	$218,000	$70,609	1.3%	#39	#2899	+31.7%
Georgetown County	0.411%	$1,190	$1,336	$957	$289,500	$68,713	1.7%	#40	#2903	+19.6%
Calhoun County	0.409%	$704	$1,012	$551	$172,100	$58,682	1.2%	#42	#2911	+13.7%
Laurens County	0.409%	$698	$981	$508	$170,600	$57,623	1.2%	#41	#2910	+32.7%
Charleston County	0.389%	$1,901	$1,989	$1,661	$489,100	$88,494	2.1%	#43	#2942	+33.1%
Oconee County	0.379%	$899	$1,094	$752	$237,100	$62,388	1.4%	#44	#2968	+24%
Pickens County	0.373%	$866	$1,084	$656	$231,900	$61,064	1.4%	#45	#2974	+26.8%
Horry County	0.328%	$944	$1,027	$823	$287,700	$66,880	1.4%	#46	#3031	+39.4%

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-year estimates — tables B25103 (real-estate taxes), B25077 (home value), B19013 (household income) — and the 2024 Census county gazetteer. Public domain (Title 17 U.S.C. §105).

County detail — 13 South Carolina counties in depth

Full figures for the South Carolina counties most searched for, each with the Census margin of error on every median, both rankings, the five-year change, and the six nearest county-equivalents by centroid distance — nearby, not necessarily bordering, and cross-state neighbours included. For any individual property's assessed value, exemptions and bill, use that county's own assessor or appraisal district; per-county assessor URLs are never guessed here (why).

Richland County 0.674% · median tax $1,637 · #1980 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,637 ± $39
With a mortgage: $1,743 ± $38
Without a mortgage: $1,380 ± $71
Median home value: $242,800 ± $4,791
Median household income: $63,784 ± $1,530
Taxes as share of income: 2.6%
Effective rate: 0.674%
Rank in South Carolina: #5 of 46
National rank: #1980 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $245,000 home: $1,651

Median real-estate taxes rose 26.7% over five years ($1,292 → $1,637) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.118 percentage points (0.792% → 0.674%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $163,100 → $242,800 (+48.9%), and the rate changed −0.118 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Richland County:

Lexington County, SC — 0.491%, median tax $1,151, 38 km away
Calhoun County, SC — 0.409%, median tax $704, 41 km away
Kershaw County, SC — 0.467%, median tax $1,013, 45 km away
Fairfield County, SC — 0.513%, median tax $776, 46 km away
Sumter County, SC — 0.533%, median tax $881, 49 km away
Lee County, SC — 0.573%, median tax $599, 61 km away

Dorchester County 0.562% · median tax $1,851 · #2409 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,851 ± $52
With a mortgage: $2,036 ± $88
Without a mortgage: $1,355 ± $99
Median home value: $329,300 ± $5,472
Median household income: $78,198 ± $3,042
Taxes as share of income: 2.4%
Effective rate: 0.562%
Rank in South Carolina: #13 of 46
National rank: #2409 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $330,000 home: $1,855

Median real-estate taxes rose 37.9% over five years ($1,342 → $1,851) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.113 percentage points (0.675% → 0.562%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $198,800 → $329,300 (+65.6%), and the rate changed −0.113 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Dorchester County:

Colleton County, SC — 0.554%, median tax $900, 35 km away
Berkeley County, SC — 0.451%, median tax $1,400, 44 km away
Charleston County, SC — 0.389%, median tax $1,901, 53 km away
Orangeburg County, SC — 0.647%, median tax $749, 54 km away
Bamberg County, SC — 0.829%, median tax $811, 62 km away
Clarendon County, SC — 0.559%, median tax $883, 67 km away

Spartanburg County 0.546% · median tax $1,274 · #2473 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,274 ± $25
With a mortgage: $1,422 ± $32
Without a mortgage: $1,000 ± $40
Median home value: $233,300 ± $3,509
Median household income: $66,234 ± $1,763
Taxes as share of income: 1.9%
Effective rate: 0.546%
Rank in South Carolina: #18 of 46
National rank: #2473 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $235,000 home: $1,283

Median real-estate taxes rose 43.3% over five years ($889 → $1,274) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.083 percentage points (0.629% → 0.546%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $141,400 → $233,300 (+65%), and the rate changed −0.083 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Spartanburg County:

Greenville County, SC — 0.506%, median tax $1,512, 35 km away
Cherokee County, SC — 0.432%, median tax $614, 37 km away
Polk County, NC — 0.539%, median tax $1,697, 42 km away
Union County, SC — 0.559%, median tax $579, 44 km away
Laurens County, SC — 0.409%, median tax $698, 50 km away
Rutherford County, NC — 0.584%, median tax $1,178, 53 km away

Dillon County 0.529% · median tax $452 · #2534 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $452 ± $41
With a mortgage: $586 ± $104
Without a mortgage: $374 ± $40
Median home value: $85,400 ± $9,433
Median household income: $46,605 ± $2,235
Taxes as share of income: 1.0%
Effective rate: 0.529%
Rank in South Carolina: #21 of 46
National rank: #2534 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $85,000 home: $450

Median real-estate taxes show no statistically significant change over five years ($444 → $452; the nominal 1.8% difference is within the survey margins of error). The change in the effective tax rate (0.560% → 0.529%) is not statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $79,300 → $85,400 (+7.7%), and the rate changed −0.031 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Dillon County:

Marion County, SC — 0.468%, median tax $436, 34 km away
Marlboro County, SC — 0.605%, median tax $496, 37 km away
Robeson County, NC — 0.868%, median tax $820, 37 km away
Florence County, SC — 0.425%, median tax $756, 51 km away
Scotland County, NC — 0.930%, median tax $1,068, 51 km away
Darlington County, SC — 0.412%, median tax $652, 54 km away

Greenville County 0.506% · median tax $1,512 · #2617 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,512 ± $26
With a mortgage: $1,648 ± $32
Without a mortgage: $1,305 ± $34
Median home value: $299,000 ± $3,712
Median household income: $76,932 ± $1,640
Taxes as share of income: 2.0%
Effective rate: 0.506%
Rank in South Carolina: #24 of 46
National rank: #2617 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $300,000 home: $1,518

Median real-estate taxes rose 24.4% over five years ($1,215 → $1,512) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.155 percentage points (0.661% → 0.506%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $183,800 → $299,000 (+62.7%), and the rate changed −0.155 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Greenville County:

Pickens County, SC — 0.373%, median tax $866, 32 km away
Spartanburg County, SC — 0.546%, median tax $1,274, 35 km away
Polk County, NC — 0.539%, median tax $1,697, 47 km away
Anderson County, SC — 0.450%, median tax $1,043, 48 km away
Henderson County, NC — 0.515%, median tax $1,810, 50 km away
Transylvania County, NC — 0.448%, median tax $1,674, 54 km away

Lexington County 0.491% · median tax $1,151 · #2659 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,151 ± $22
With a mortgage: $1,267 ± $24
Without a mortgage: $882 ± $37
Median home value: $234,500 ± $3,042
Median household income: $77,408 ± $1,670
Taxes as share of income: 1.5%
Effective rate: 0.491%
Rank in South Carolina: #26 of 46
National rank: #2659 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $235,000 home: $1,154

Median real-estate taxes rose 28.9% over five years ($893 → $1,151) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.078 percentage points (0.569% → 0.491%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $157,000 → $234,500 (+49.4%), and the rate changed −0.078 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Lexington County:

Richland County, SC — 0.674%, median tax $1,637, 38 km away
Saluda County, SC — 0.510%, median tax $747, 44 km away
Aiken County, SC — 0.411%, median tax $897, 51 km away
Calhoun County, SC — 0.409%, median tax $704, 52 km away
Newberry County, SC — 0.666%, median tax $1,154, 54 km away
Fairfield County, SC — 0.513%, median tax $776, 58 km away

York County 0.482% · median tax $1,740 · #2693 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,740 ± $39
With a mortgage: $1,934 ± $54
Without a mortgage: $1,276 ± $69
Median home value: $361,300 ± $4,843
Median household income: $89,095 ± $2,015
Taxes as share of income: 1.9%
Effective rate: 0.482%
Rank in South Carolina: #27 of 46
National rank: #2693 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $360,000 home: $1,735

Median real-estate taxes rose 44.2% over five years ($1,207 → $1,740) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.119 percentage points (0.600% → 0.482%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $201,100 → $361,300 (+79.7%), and the rate changed −0.119 percentage points.

Nearest counties to York County:

Chester County, SC — 0.562%, median tax $890, 31 km away
Gaston County, NC — 0.745%, median tax $1,982, 36 km away
Cherokee County, SC — 0.432%, median tax $614, 40 km away
Mecklenburg County, NC — 0.710%, median tax $2,890, 44 km away
Union County, SC — 0.559%, median tax $579, 50 km away
Cleveland County, NC — 0.643%, median tax $1,286, 53 km away

Beaufort County 0.477% · median tax $2,174 · #2711 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $2,174 ± $79
With a mortgage: $2,267 ± $97
Without a mortgage: $1,993 ± $155
Median home value: $455,600 ± $10,790
Median household income: $86,573 ± $3,024
Taxes as share of income: 2.5%
Effective rate: 0.477%
Rank in South Carolina: #28 of 46
National rank: #2711 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $455,000 home: $2,170

Median real-estate taxes rose 41.2% over five years ($1,540 → $2,174) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.039 percentage points (0.517% → 0.477%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $298,100 → $455,600 (+52.8%), and the rate changed −0.039 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Beaufort County:

Jasper County, SC — 0.569%, median tax $1,852, 32 km away
Colleton County, SC — 0.554%, median tax $900, 55 km away
Chatham County, GA — 0.839%, median tax $2,541, 56 km away
Effingham County, GA — 0.904%, median tax $2,495, 61 km away
Hampton County, SC — 0.801%, median tax $897, 63 km away
Bryan County, GA — 0.780%, median tax $2,677, 80 km away

Berkeley County 0.451% · median tax $1,400 · #2794 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,400 ± $32
With a mortgage: $1,580 ± $56
Without a mortgage: $1,047 ± $58
Median home value: $310,300 ± $5,963
Median household income: $84,358 ± $2,255
Taxes as share of income: 1.7%
Effective rate: 0.451%
Rank in South Carolina: #31 of 46
National rank: #2794 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $310,000 home: $1,398

Median real-estate taxes rose 40.6% over five years ($996 → $1,400) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.086 percentage points (0.537% → 0.451%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $185,500 → $310,300 (+67.3%), and the rate changed −0.086 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Berkeley County:

Dorchester County, SC — 0.562%, median tax $1,851, 44 km away
Charleston County, SC — 0.389%, median tax $1,901, 45 km away
Williamsburg County, SC — 0.657%, median tax $687, 52 km away
Clarendon County, SC — 0.559%, median tax $883, 56 km away
Georgetown County, SC — 0.411%, median tax $1,190, 65 km away
Colleton County, SC — 0.554%, median tax $900, 77 km away

Anderson County 0.450% · median tax $1,043 · #2798 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,043 ± $37
With a mortgage: $1,245 ± $41
Without a mortgage: $779 ± $50
Median home value: $231,900 ± $5,118
Median household income: $66,651 ± $2,330
Taxes as share of income: 1.6%
Effective rate: 0.450%
Rank in South Carolina: #32 of 46
National rank: #2798 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $230,000 home: $1,035

Median real-estate taxes rose 30% over five years ($802 → $1,043) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.1 percentage points (0.550% → 0.450%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $145,800 → $231,900 (+59.1%), and the rate changed −0.1 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Anderson County:

Hart County, GA — 0.562%, median tax $1,209, 35 km away
Abbeville County, SC — 0.437%, median tax $782, 37 km away
Pickens County, SC — 0.373%, median tax $866, 41 km away
Oconee County, SC — 0.379%, median tax $899, 46 km away
Greenville County, SC — 0.506%, median tax $1,512, 48 km away
Elbert County, GA — 0.914%, median tax $1,298, 49 km away

Aiken County 0.411% · median tax $897 · #2899 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $897 ± $31
With a mortgage: $1,061 ± $58
Without a mortgage: $706 ± $41
Median home value: $218,000 ± $6,056
Median household income: $70,609 ± $2,453
Taxes as share of income: 1.3%
Effective rate: 0.411%
Rank in South Carolina: #39 of 46
National rank: #2899 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $220,000 home: $904

Median real-estate taxes rose 31.7% over five years ($681 → $897) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.051 percentage points (0.462% → 0.411%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $147,300 → $218,000 (+48%), and the rate changed −0.051 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Aiken County:

Barnwell County, SC — 0.731%, median tax $775, 37 km away
Edgefield County, SC — 0.432%, median tax $875, 40 km away
Richmond County, GA — 0.845%, median tax $1,508, 46 km away
Lexington County, SC — 0.491%, median tax $1,151, 51 km away
Saluda County, SC — 0.510%, median tax $747, 51 km away
Columbia County, GA — 0.824%, median tax $2,515, 57 km away

Charleston County 0.389% · median tax $1,901 · #2942 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $1,901 ± $31
With a mortgage: $1,989 ± $45
Without a mortgage: $1,661 ± $68
Median home value: $489,100 ± $9,282
Median household income: $88,494 ± $1,950
Taxes as share of income: 2.1%
Effective rate: 0.389%
Rank in South Carolina: #43 of 46
National rank: #2942 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $490,000 home: $1,906

Median real-estate taxes rose 33.1% over five years ($1,428 → $1,901) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.064 percentage points (0.452% → 0.389%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $315,600 → $489,100 (+55%), and the rate changed −0.064 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Charleston County:

Berkeley County, SC — 0.451%, median tax $1,400, 45 km away
Dorchester County, SC — 0.562%, median tax $1,851, 53 km away
Colleton County, SC — 0.554%, median tax $900, 67 km away
Beaufort County, SC — 0.477%, median tax $2,174, 86 km away
Georgetown County, SC — 0.411%, median tax $1,190, 91 km away
Williamsburg County, SC — 0.657%, median tax $687, 94 km away

Horry County 0.328% · median tax $944 · #3031 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $944 ± $18
With a mortgage: $1,027 ± $33
Without a mortgage: $823 ± $35
Median home value: $287,700 ± $4,754
Median household income: $66,880 ± $1,763
Taxes as share of income: 1.4%
Effective rate: 0.328%
Rank in South Carolina: #46 of 46
National rank: #3031 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $290,000 home: $951

Median real-estate taxes rose 39.4% over five years ($677 → $944) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.045 percentage points (0.373% → 0.328%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $181,500 → $287,700 (+58.5%), and the rate changed −0.045 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Horry County:

Marion County, SC — 0.468%, median tax $436, 40 km away
Columbus County, NC — 0.767%, median tax $1,120, 50 km away
Georgetown County, SC — 0.411%, median tax $1,190, 62 km away
Dillon County, SC — 0.529%, median tax $452, 65 km away
Florence County, SC — 0.425%, median tax $756, 69 km away
Brunswick County, NC — 0.540%, median tax $1,890, 71 km away

Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 — consecutive 5-year estimates share survey sample and are never compared here.

How property tax works in South Carolina

Assessment, exemptions, appeals and payment are set by South Carolina law and practice, so they apply to every county in the table above. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.

How property is assessed: Countywide reappraisal happens once every five years. Assessment RATIOS are fixed by property class: 4.0% of market value for a primary residence, 6.0% for other real estate, 4.0% of use value for agricultural land, and 10.5% for manufacturing property. source →
Exemptions & credits: A homestead exemption removes the first $50,000 of fair market value for owners 65+, totally/permanently disabled, or legally blind; disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and former POWs qualify for a home exemption; agricultural land gets the reduced use-value ratio above, with rollback taxes if the use changes. source →
Appealing an assessment: A taxpayer who objects to a real-property assessment must give written notice to the county assessor within 90 days of the assessment notice; after a conference, a further written protest is due within 30 days, and appeal to the County Board of Assessment Appeals follows the assessor's response. source →
Why rates vary within the state: Property tax is "administered and collected by local governments with assistance from the SCDOR" — county, school, and municipal millage rates are each set locally, which is the state's own stated structure for why rates vary. source →

Hand-sourced from official government sources — not a substitute for your own assessor's notice, and not legal or tax advice. Where a fact isn't confirmed on an official source, it is left off rather than guessed, which is why some states show fewer rows than others.

Official South Carolina tax authority

Property tax in South Carolina is assessed and collected locally. For an individual property's assessed value, exemptions, and bill, use the county assessor or appraisal district. For statewide rules and forms:

South Carolina Department of Revenue →

This state link is hand-verified. Per-county assessor URLs are not published (no verified nationwide source exists) and are never guessed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average property tax rate in South Carolina?: Statewide, South Carolina's effective property-tax rate is 0.483% — the state median real-estate taxes ($1,251) divided by the state median home value ($259,000), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts South Carolina at #46 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
Which South Carolina county has the highest property taxes?: By effective rate, Allendale County is highest in South Carolina at 0.878% (median bill $669), and Horry County is lowest at 0.328% (median bill $944). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.
What property tax exemptions are available in South Carolina?: A homestead exemption removes the first $50,000 of fair market value for owners 65+, totally/permanently disabled, or legally blind; disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and former POWs qualify for a home exemption; agricultural land gets the reduced use-value ratio above, with rollback taxes if the use changes. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.
How do I appeal a property tax assessment in South Carolina?: A taxpayer who objects to a real-property assessment must give written notice to the county assessor within 90 days of the assessment notice; after a conference, a further written protest is due within 30 days, and appeal to the County Board of Assessment Appeals follows the assessor's response. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.
How is property assessed in South Carolina?: Countywide reappraisal happens once every five years. Assessment RATIOS are fixed by property class: 4.0% of market value for a primary residence, 6.0% for other real estate, 4.0% of use value for agricultural land, and 10.5% for manufacturing property. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.

Compare & explore

See the national highest and lowest property-tax rates, or read the methodology behind every figure. The national median effective rate is 0.937%; South Carolina's statewide figure is 0.483%.