Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › York County › Catawba Population 1,225 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $586 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full York County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Catawba, South Carolina

A $198,000 home here costs

$1,666

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $71,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 6%Insurance 6%Utilities 14%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,079. The real number is $586 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare York County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Catawba from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,225 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The York County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Catawba median: $198,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
SC average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $158,400 borrowed $1,079
Property tax0.559% effective rate for Catawba itself $92
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $95
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $165
Total monthly $1,666

Catawba against York County and South Carolina

MeasureCatawbaYork County
Median home value$198,100$322,700
Median property tax$1,107$1,602
Effective tax rate0.559%0.496%
Median gross rent$1,525$1,304
Population1,225288,559

The weather behind that power bill

Catawba sits in York County, which averages a high of 89.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.5°F in its coldest, with 44.11" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,565 cooling and 3,457 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for York County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in York County

Full York County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Catawba averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Catawba every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Catawba I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Catawba?

A $198,000 home in Catawba, South Carolina costs approximately $1,666 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,079 principal and interest, $92 property tax, $95 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $165 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Catawba?

Catawba has an effective property tax rate of 0.559%, based on a median home value of $198,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,107. That is higher than the York County average of 0.496%.

What is the average home price in Catawba?

The median owner-occupied home value in Catawba, South Carolina is $198,100, against $322,700 across York County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Catawba?

Median gross rent in Catawba is $1,525 a month, against $1,666 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Catawba?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Catawba, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $71,500 a year. That covers the full $1,666 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Catawba, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for South Carolina.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology