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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Central, SC Housing Affordability Index

Central, South Carolina has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 108.2 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 215th most affordable of 281 scored South Carolina cities, compared with 112.4 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $256,600 home with 20% down, the South Carolina average 30-year fixed rate of 7.24% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,400, or 28% of the city’s $60,258 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Central is updated every night from live South Carolina mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Central MBR-HAI 108.2 Near National Average
Rank in South Carolina 215 of 281 1 = most affordable
South Carolina 112.4 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.24% South Carolina lenders
Median home value $256,600 U.S. Census Bureau

Central is 4.1 points below the South Carolina score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the South Carolina index

View Central Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Central

$1,400/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.24%
$60,000
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$60,258
Median Household Income
South Carolina: $69,324
4.3x
Price-to-Income Ratio
South Carolina: 3.7x
$1,131/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$1,268/yr
Median Property Tax
0.49% of median value
25.3%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
34.3%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Central, South Carolina. The rate is the South Carolina average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Central Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Central, South Carolina score: 108.2 (Near National Average), ranked 215 of 281 South Carolina cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/south-carolina/central”