County FMR · HUD FY2026
Florence County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Florence County, SC - 1% below the US average.
- $953
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,117
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +10.6%
- YoY change
- -1%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Florence is the 22nd most expensive of 46 counties in South Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 10.6% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #22
- most expensive of 46 in South Carolina (2BR)
- -3%
- vs the state average
- $38,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +10.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.5%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (46.7%); nearby South Carolina counties range as much as 51% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Florence County, SC. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Florence County, South Carolina is $953 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,117/mo and a studio is $948/mo. This is 1% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% below the South Carolina average of $982.
Rent increased10.6% from FY 2025 ($862), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $38,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in South Carolina. Population: 137,015. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than South Carolina's statewide growth of +5.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Florence County
The Florence County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and South Carolina's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 1% below the US average of $959 and 3% lower than the South Carolina state average of $982. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$862 in FY 2025 to $953 in FY 2026 - a change of +10.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $953, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $38,120 per year (about $3,177/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,117 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 137,015 and a county median household income of $56,650, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $857 | $948 | +$91 (+10.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $862 | $953 | +$91 (+10.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,065 | $1,117 | +$52 (+4.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,359 | $1,434 | +$75 (+5.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,461 | $1,588 | +$127 (+8.7%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Florence County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Florence County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Florence sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,117 Top 39% higher than 61% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Florence compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other South Carolina counties
- Charleston
Charleston County
$1,630 1BR FMR / mo
- Horry
Horry County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Greenville
Greenville County
$1,221 1BR FMR / mo
- Richland
Richland County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Lexington
Lexington County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Spartanburg
Spartanburg County
$1,083 1BR FMR / mo
- Florence
Florence County
$953 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Florence is highlighted. Nearby South Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Charleston County ($1,630), Horry County ($1,229), Greenville County ($1,221), Richland County ($1,164), Lexington County ($1,164), Spartanburg County ($1,083), Florence County (this county) ($953).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $953/mo compares to South Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | SC Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $108,690 | 10.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,340 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,900 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,180 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,370 | 19.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $58,260 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,020 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,810 | 22.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,640 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,960 | 29.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,940 | 30.1% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,560 | 38.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 38.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,830 | 42.6% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $24,510 | 46.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Florence County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Florence (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.0% overall, from $611 to $953. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.2% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑10.6% | $948 | $953 | $1,117 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.8% | $857 | $862 | $1,065 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.2% | $787 | $792 | $1,012 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.2% | $701 | $706 | $927 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.4% | $631 | $635 | $832 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.5% | $616 | $620 | $809 |
| FY 2020 | $607 | $611 | $785 |
Part of the Florence, SC Metro Area
Florence County is a central county of the Florence, SC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Florence County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Florence County (this county) ($953), Darlington County ($856).
Nearby Counties in South Carolina
Largest counties by population in South Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Florence County? ▼
How does Florence County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Florence County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Florence County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Florence County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Florence County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Florence County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Florence County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Florence's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $953 implies about $38,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Florence can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.