Housing data for Folly Beach, SC
Folly Beach, SC has an estimated 1,267 residents and 2,221 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Charleston County.
5.3% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,844 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−52.4%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 1,267 (±331)
- Housing units
- 2,221 (±238)
- Households that rent
- 5.3%
- Median gross rent
- $1,844
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −52.4%
What stands out in Folly Beach
Rental vacancy rate: 82.7% (±10.0 points) in Folly Beach, higher than in Charleston County (11.7%).
Median home value: $1,000,000 (±$115,161) in Folly Beach, higher than in Charleston County ($489,100).
Households that rent: 5.3% (±5.0 points) in Folly Beach, lower than in Charleston County (36.1%).
Median real estate taxes: $3,318 (±$601) in Folly Beach, higher than in Charleston County ($1,901).
Housing in Folly Beach at a glance
- Median rent: $1,844 median gross rent a month (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Rent burden: 100.0% of renters pay 30% or more of income (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Renters and owners: 5.3% of households rent (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Income and affordability: $102,279 median household income (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Home values: $1,000,000 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $2,667 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $3,318 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 20.5% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 64.3% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 30.0% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 82.7% rental vacancy rate (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Heating fuel: 66.9% heat with electricity
- Commute and cars: 26.9 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 192 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: −52.4% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 26.4% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 0.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Fair Market Rent: $2,500 Small Area FMR, 2 bedrooms (ZIP 29439)
Folly Beach against Charleston County, its state and the nation
| Folly Beach | Charleston County | South Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1,267 (±331) | 420,264 (exact) | 5,296,225 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 2,221 (±238) | 209,803 (±117) | 2,443,039 (±311) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 5.3% (±5.0 points) | 36.1% (±1.0 points) | 28.1% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,844 (±$890) | $1,620 (±$36) | $1,180 (±$9) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $102,279 (±$64,730) | $88,494 (±$1,950) | $69,324 (±$570) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $1,000,000 (±$115,161) | $489,100 (±$9,282) | $259,000 (±$1,421) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $3,318 (±$601) | $1,901 (±$31) | $1,251 (±$7) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 30.0% (±7.5 points) | 34.5% (±1.1 points) | 32.8% (±0.3 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 26.9 minutes (±7.7) | 25.1 minutes (±0.5) | 25.6 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 96.1% (±5.5 points) | 88.9% (±0.8 points) | 88.8% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 62.0 years (±3.2) | 39.2 years (±0.3) | 40.2 years (±0.2) | 38.9 years |
Folly Beach covers 12.5 square miles of land, about 101 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Folly Beach has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2,660 (±11) | 1,267 (±331) | −52.4% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 3,023 (±323) | 2,221 (±238) | −26.5% | Measurable decrease |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 (±$153) | $1,844 (±$890) | +76.3% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median home value | $569,900 (±$89,153) | $1,000,000 (±$115,161) | +75.5% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $78,708 (±$29,328) | $102,279 (±$64,730) | +29.9% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $1,489 (±$864) | $3,318 (±$601) | +122.8% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 41.4% (±16.5 points) | 5.3% (±5.0 points) | −36.1 percentage points | Measurable decrease |
| Rental vacancy rate | 24.9% (±13.8 points) | 82.7% (±10.0 points) | +57.8 percentage points | Measurable increase |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Folly Beach
In 2025, the Folly Beach Police Department reported 192 violent and 1,294 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
ZIP codes in Folly Beach
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29439 | 100% | 1,125 | $1,844 | $1,043,200 | $137,396 |
| 29412 | 25% | 39,256 | $1,881 | $504,500 | $101,509 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near Folly Beach
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Island | 4.8 mi | $1,695 | $508,600 | 12.5% |
| Kiawah Island | 6.9 mi | — | $2,000,000 or more | 1.1% |
| Sullivan's Island | 10 mi | $2,375 | $2,000,000 or more | 14.7% |
| Charleston | 11 mi | $1,722 | $509,700 | 44.4% |
| Mount Pleasant | 11 mi | $2,159 | $748,500 | 26.4% |
| Rockville | 14 mi | $2,083 | $459,100 | 8.6% |
| Seabrook Island | 14 mi | $3,500 or more | $1,001,400 | 4.2% |
| Hollywood | 15 mi | $1,625 | $460,100 | 11.3% |
Places in South Carolina most like Folly Beach
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | $2,159 | $748,500 | $124,755 | 26.4% |
| Lake Wylie | $1,710 | $485,600 | $112,097 | 19.1% |
| Isle of Palms | $2,893 | $1,581,300 | $156,979 | 6.5% |
| Litchfield Beach | $1,704 | $459,000 | $76,351 | 16.6% |
| Fort Mill | $1,503 | $487,500 | $121,823 | 16.6% |
| Edisto Beach | $1,136 | $719,200 | $85,521 | 14.4% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across South Carolina.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Folly Beach, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,661 | $1,731 | $1,884 | $2,336 | $2,687 |
HUD also publishes a Small Area Fair Market Rent for each ZIP code in the area; the Fair Market Rent page for this place lists its ZIP codes.
HUD income limits for Folly Beach, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $24,700 | $41,150 | $65,800 |
| 2 people | $28,200 | $47,000 | $75,200 |
| 3 people | $31,750 | $52,900 | $84,600 |
| 4 people | $35,250 | $58,750 | $94,000 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $63,450 | $101,550 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $68,150 | $109,050 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $72,850 | $116,600 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $77,550 | $124,100 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $117,500.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Folly Beach
What is the average home value in Folly Beach, SC?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $1,000,000 (±$115,161) for owner-occupied homes in Folly Beach (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average mortgage payment in Folly Beach?
The Census Bureau publishes total owner costs rather than the mortgage alone: the median for owners with a mortgage in Folly Beach, SC is $2,667 (±$768) a month, including taxes, insurance and utilities.
How much are property taxes in Folly Beach?
The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in Folly Beach, SC is $3,318 (±$601) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many homes are in Folly Beach?
Folly Beach, SC has an estimated 2,221 (±238) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the most common home size in Folly Beach?
The most common size is 3 bedrooms, 47.0% of homes in Folly Beach, SC.
How old are most homes in Folly Beach?
30.0% of homes in Folly Beach, SC were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Folly Beach growing?
In Folly Beach, the number of residents went from 2,660 in 2015–2019 to 1,267 in 2020–2024 (−52.4%), a measurable decrease.
What ZIP codes are in Folly Beach?
The ZIP codes that cover Folly Beach are 29439, 29412.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 29439?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 29439 is $1,844 (±$890) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Folly Beach city, South Carolina
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Folly Beach Police Department (ORI SC0100400)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Folly Beach city, South Carolina (place:26035, in state:45).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .