South Carolina property tax by county
Across South Carolina's 46 counties, the typical (median) effective property-tax rate is 0.53% of a home's value. Rates vary widely by county, from 0.34% in Horry County to 0.88% in Allendale County. The full ranking is below; each county links to its own page. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Property tax rate by county in South Carolina
| County | Effective rate | Median tax | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale County | 0.88% | $542 | $61,600 |
| Bamberg County | 0.83% | $796 | $96,000 |
| Hampton County | 0.81% | $826 | $102,400 |
| Barnwell County | 0.74% | $717 | $97,200 |
| Richland County | 0.7% | $1,569 | $224,200 |
| Newberry County | 0.69% | $1,090 | $158,200 |
| Orangeburg County | 0.66% | $724 | $109,700 |
| Williamsburg County | 0.66% | $630 | $95,100 |
| Marlboro County | 0.64% | $475 | $74,500 |
| McCormick County | 0.64% | $1,014 | $159,000 |
| Colleton County | 0.61% | $883 | $145,900 |
| Chester County | 0.59% | $846 | $143,800 |
| Clarendon County | 0.58% | $848 | $147,300 |
| Dorchester County | 0.58% | $1,710 | $294,400 |
| Greenwood County | 0.58% | $973 | $166,400 |
| Lee County | 0.57% | $579 | $101,900 |
| Saluda County | 0.57% | $700 | $123,200 |
| Spartanburg County | 0.56% | $1,217 | $216,000 |
| Union County | 0.56% | $558 | $100,000 |
| Jasper County | 0.55% | $1,490 | $269,400 |
| Sumter County | 0.54% | $860 | $159,500 |
| Fairfield County | 0.53% | $683 | $129,100 |
| Greenville County | 0.53% | $1,445 | $273,900 |
| Lexington County | 0.52% | $1,136 | $217,700 |
| Beaufort County | 0.5% | $2,022 | $407,600 |
| Dillon County | 0.5% | $425 | $84,400 |
| Lancaster County | 0.5% | $1,487 | $298,100 |
| York County | 0.5% | $1,602 | $322,700 |
| Abbeville County | 0.49% | $717 | $147,200 |
| Kershaw County | 0.49% | $937 | $191,900 |
| Berkeley County | 0.48% | $1,343 | $280,300 |
| Anderson County | 0.46% | $985 | $212,500 |
| Chesterfield County | 0.46% | $468 | $101,400 |
| Marion County | 0.46% | $397 | $86,800 |
| Edgefield County | 0.45% | $877 | $194,300 |
| Cherokee County | 0.44% | $590 | $135,200 |
| Florence County | 0.44% | $724 | $165,500 |
| Laurens County | 0.44% | $673 | $153,500 |
| Aiken County | 0.43% | $862 | $199,500 |
| Darlington County | 0.43% | $604 | $141,400 |
| Georgetown County | 0.43% | $1,117 | $262,300 |
| Calhoun County | 0.42% | $630 | $148,800 |
| Charleston County | 0.41% | $1,864 | $450,800 |
| Oconee County | 0.39% | $856 | $217,200 |
| Pickens County | 0.38% | $821 | $216,000 |
| Horry County | 0.34% | $879 | $260,500 |
Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023), tables B25103 and B25077.
Why county rates vary so much
Property tax is set locally, not by the state, so the rate depends on the county, city, school district, and special districts where a home sits, and on how those local budgets compare to local home values. A county with low home values can still have a high effective rate if its local budgets are large, and a wealthy county can have a low effective rate. The effective rate shown here is the median tax bill divided by the median home value, which is the standard way to compare places; your own bill depends on your assessment and any exemptions.
For South Carolina's income and retirement taxes, see South Carolina income tax and South Carolina retirement taxes.
Sources
- Median real estate taxes paid and median home value, all South Carolina counties: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023), tables B25103 and B25077.