Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in St. George, South Carolina
A $124,000 home here costs
$1,162per 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 $50,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $676. The real number is $486 higher every month, 72% 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 St. George from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,935 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.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
St. George against Dorchester County and South Carolina
| Measure | St. George | Dorchester County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,200 | $294,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,077 | $1,710 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.867% | 0.581% |
| Median gross rent | $800 | $1,381 |
| Population | 1,935 | 164,322 |
The weather behind that power bill
St. George 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 St. George 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 St. George every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in St. George I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in St. George?
A $124,000 home in St. George, South Carolina costs approximately $1,162 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $676 principal and interest, $90 property tax, $60 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $103 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in St. George?
St. George has an effective property tax rate of 0.867%, based on a median home value of $124,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,077. That is higher than the Dorchester County average of 0.581%.
What is the average home price in St. George?
The median owner-occupied home value in St. George, South Carolina is $124,200, against $294,400 across Dorchester County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. George?
Median gross rent in St. George is $800 a month, against $1,162 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 St. George?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in St. George, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $50,000 a year. That covers the full $1,162 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for St. George, 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.