Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in James Island, South Carolina
A $454,000 home here costs
$3,493per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $149,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,515. The real number is $978 higher every month, 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Charleston 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.
James Island against Charleston County and South Carolina
| Measure | James Island | Charleston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $454,200 | $450,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,813 | $1,864 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.399% | 0.413% |
| Median gross rent | $1,443 | $1,506 |
| Population | 11,738 | 414,711 |
The weather behind that power bill
James Island sits in Charleston County, which averages a high of 87.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 43.6°F in its coldest, with 44.26" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,448 cooling and 1,623 heating degree days, which is what sets the $162 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Charleston County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Charleston County
Full Charleston County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are James Island 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 James Island every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in James Island I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in James Island?
A $454,000 home in James Island, South Carolina costs approximately $3,493 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,515 principal and interest, $151 property tax, $219 homeowners insurance, $230 utilities and $378 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in James Island?
James Island has an effective property tax rate of 0.399%, based on a median home value of $454,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,813. That is lower than the Charleston County average of 0.413%.
What is the average home price in James Island?
The median owner-occupied home value in James Island, South Carolina is $454,200, against $450,800 across Charleston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in James Island?
Median gross rent in James Island is $1,443 a month, against $3,493 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 James Island?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in James Island, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $149,500 a year. That covers the full $3,493 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for James Island, 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.