Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › Lancaster County › Kershaw Population 2,220 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 $474 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Lancaster County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Kershaw, South Carolina

A $146,000 home here costs

$1,270

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 $54,500 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 4%Insurance 6%Utilities 18%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $796. The real number is $474 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Lancaster County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kershaw from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,220 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 Lancaster County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Kershaw median: $145,800
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, $116,800 borrowed $796
Property tax0.396% effective rate for Kershaw itself $48
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $70
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $122
Total monthly $1,270

Kershaw against Lancaster County and South Carolina

MeasureKershawLancaster County
Median home value$145,800$298,100
Median property tax$577$1,487
Effective tax rate0.396%0.499%
Median gross rent$893$892
Population2,220100,905

The weather behind that power bill

Kershaw sits in Lancaster County, which averages a high of 90.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.0°F in its coldest, with 37.92" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,715 cooling and 3,061 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Lancaster County

Full Lancaster County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Kershaw 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 Kershaw every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

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

Common questions

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

A $146,000 home in Kershaw, South Carolina costs approximately $1,270 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $796 principal and interest, $48 property tax, $70 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $122 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Kershaw?

Kershaw has an effective property tax rate of 0.396%, based on a median home value of $145,800 and median real estate taxes of $577. That is lower than the Lancaster County average of 0.499%.

What is the average home price in Kershaw?

The median owner-occupied home value in Kershaw, South Carolina is $145,800, against $298,100 across Lancaster County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kershaw?

Median gross rent in Kershaw is $893 a month, against $1,270 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 Kershaw?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kershaw, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $54,500 a year. That covers the full $1,270 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kershaw, 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