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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

Pauline, SC Housing Affordability Index

Pauline, South Carolina has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 126.9 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 151st most affordable of 281 scored South Carolina cities, compared with 112.4 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $331,000 home with 20% down, the South Carolina average 30-year fixed rate of 7.24% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,805, or 31% of the city’s $70,486 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Pauline 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.

Pauline MBR-HAI 126.9 Highly Affordable
Rank in South Carolina 151 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 $331,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Pauline is 14.5 points above the South Carolina score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the South Carolina index

View Pauline Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Pauline, South Carolina

Use this Pauline, South Carolina home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s South Carolina average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.24%. A household earning the Pauline median income of $70,486, with no other debts and $66,000 down, can afford a home of about $278,012, compared with a median home value of $331,000. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $87,500 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Pauline median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
South Carolina average, 30-year fixed
Pauline median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$278,012
Below the Pauline median home value of $331,000
Loan amount$212,012
Principal & interest$1,445/mo
Property tax$83/mo
Home insurance$116/mo
PMI$0/mo
Total monthly payment$1,645/mo
Compare Pauline Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Pauline?

Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.

In Pauline, property taxes run about 0.36% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $4,687 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.

What It Takes to Buy in Pauline

$1,805/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.24%
$77,400
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$70,486
Median Household Income
South Carolina: $69,324
4.7x
Price-to-Income Ratio
South Carolina: 3.7x
$415/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$1,197/yr
Median Property Tax
0.36% of median value
46.3%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
36.0%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

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

Cite the Pauline Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Pauline, South Carolina score: 126.9 (Highly Affordable), ranked 151 of 281 South Carolina cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/south-carolina/pauline”