Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › Dorchester County › Ridgeville Population 1,591 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 $573 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Dorchester County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Ridgeville, South Carolina

A $184,000 home here costs

$1,576

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 $67,500 a year.

P&I 64%Tax 6%Insurance 6%Utilities 15%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,003. The real number is $572 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Dorchester County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Ridgeville from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,591 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 Dorchester County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Ridgeville median: $183,500
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, $147,200 borrowed $1,003
Property tax0.633% effective rate for Ridgeville itself $97
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $89
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $153
Total monthly $1,576

Ridgeville against Dorchester County and South Carolina

MeasureRidgevilleDorchester County
Median home value$183,500$294,400
Median property tax$1,162$1,710
Effective tax rate0.633%0.581%
Median gross rent$1,398$1,381
Population1,591164,322

The weather behind that power bill

Ridgeville sits in Dorchester County, which averages a high of 90.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.5°F in its coldest, with 52.7" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,988 cooling and 2,385 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Dorchester County

Full Dorchester County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $184,000 home in Ridgeville, South Carolina costs approximately $1,576 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,003 principal and interest, $97 property tax, $89 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $153 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Ridgeville?

Ridgeville has an effective property tax rate of 0.633%, based on a median home value of $183,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,162. That is higher than the Dorchester County average of 0.581%.

What is the average home price in Ridgeville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Ridgeville, South Carolina is $183,500, against $294,400 across Dorchester County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ridgeville?

Median gross rent in Ridgeville is $1,398 a month, against $1,576 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 Ridgeville?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ridgeville, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $67,500 a year. That covers the full $1,576 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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