Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Clemson, South Carolina
A $359,000 home here costs
$2,819per 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 $121,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,957. The real number is $862 higher every month, 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Anderson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Clemson against Anderson County and South Carolina
| Measure | Clemson | Anderson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,100 | $212,500 |
| Median property tax | $1,876 | $985 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.522% | 0.464% |
| Median gross rent | $972 | $952 |
| Population | 17,759 | 207,218 |
Clemson extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Anderson County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Clemson sits in Anderson County, which averages a high of 90.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.5°F in its coldest, with 50.25" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,864 cooling and 2,935 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Anderson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Anderson County
Full Anderson County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Clemson 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 Clemson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Clemson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Clemson?
A $359,000 home in Clemson, South Carolina costs approximately $2,819 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,957 principal and interest, $156 property tax, $173 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $299 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Clemson?
Clemson has an effective property tax rate of 0.522%, based on a median home value of $359,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,876. That is higher than the Anderson County average of 0.464%.
What is the average home price in Clemson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Clemson, South Carolina is $359,100, against $212,500 across Anderson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clemson?
Median gross rent in Clemson is $972 a month, against $2,819 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 Clemson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clemson, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $121,000 a year. That covers the full $2,819 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clemson, 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.