Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › Colleton County › Walterboro Population 5,490 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 $552 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Colleton County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Walterboro, South Carolina

A $171,000 home here costs

$1,484

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 $63,500 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 6%Insurance 6%Utilities 16%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $932. The real number is $552 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Colleton County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Walterboro median: $170,500
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, $136,800 borrowed $932
Property tax0.657% effective rate for Walterboro itself $94
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $82
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $143
Total monthly $1,484

Walterboro against Colleton County and South Carolina

MeasureWalterboroColleton County
Median home value$170,500$145,900
Median property tax$1,121$883
Effective tax rate0.657%0.605%
Median gross rent$865$905
Population5,49038,623

The weather behind that power bill

Walterboro sits in Colleton County, which averages a high of 90.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.2°F in its coldest, with 51.42" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,016 cooling and 2,322 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Colleton County

Full Colleton County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $171,000 home in Walterboro, South Carolina costs approximately $1,484 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $932 principal and interest, $94 property tax, $82 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $143 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Walterboro?

Walterboro has an effective property tax rate of 0.657%, based on a median home value of $170,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,121. That is higher than the Colleton County average of 0.605%.

What is the average home price in Walterboro?

The median owner-occupied home value in Walterboro, South Carolina is $170,500, against $145,900 across Colleton County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Walterboro?

Median gross rent in Walterboro is $865 a month, against $1,484 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 Walterboro?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Walterboro, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $63,500 a year. That covers the full $1,484 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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