Is Chester County, SC good for real estate investing?

Chester County has an investment score of 60/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #375 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Chester?

The rent-to-price ratio in Chester County is 7.32% annually, which ranks in the 80th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Chester?

The median home price in Chester County is $216,340. This ranks #444 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Chester?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Chester County would generate negative cash flow of $277/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Chester County

South CarolinaPopulation: 32,171

/100

Hold

#375 of 1,000 counties

#12 in South Carolina (46 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 3, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$216,340

Median Home Price

6% below national median

$1,320/mo

Median Rent

9% below national median

7.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 20% nationally

-$277

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,320/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$162,255	+$7/mo	6.3%	+0.2%
Median typical MLS deal	$216,340	-$277/mo	4.8%	-6.7%
125% of median newer / premium	$270,425	-$560/mo	3.8%	-10.8%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$216,340

Down Payment (20%)$43,268

Loan Amount$173,072

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,320

Monthly P&I-$1,134

Est. Expenses (35%)-$462

Net Cash Flow-$277/mo

4.8%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-6.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

7.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.8% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

60/100

Cash Flow(30%)

73/100

Based on 7.32% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

36/100

Based on -2.8% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

84/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (7.32%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-2.8% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$277/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.8% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

32,171

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
+Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
GreenwoodSC	62	$166,406	$1,136	8.19%	Buy	View
LexingtonSC	62	$266,614	$1,588	7.15%	Buy	View
CurrentChesterSC	60	$216,340	$1,320	7.32%	Buy
OconeeSC	60	$279,544	$1,501	6.44%	Buy	View
EdgefieldSC	59	$260,554	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
GreenvilleSC	58	$329,079	$1,598	5.83%	Hold	View

The Bottom Line

HoldChester scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $277/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Chester County in South Carolina scores 60/100, ranking #375 of 1,000 US counties (top 48%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $277/month; the 7.32% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-277/mo

Cap Rate

4.8%

Cash-on-Cash

-6.7%