Dorchester County, South Carolina: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Dorchester County is worth $294,400, property taxes on it run about $1,710 a year (0.58%), the FHA loan limit is $690,000, and closing on it means about $1,090 in transfer tax plus $840 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $294,400 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $1,710 a year, 0.58% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $690,000 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $1,090 | South Carolina transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $740 owner's + $100 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,930 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $117,500; low-income limit $94,000 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Dorchester County?
The median owner-occupied home in Dorchester County is valued at $294,400, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Dorchester County?
The median Dorchester County homeowner pays $1,710 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.58% of the median home value ($1,882 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Dorchester County?
$690,000 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Dorchester County?
On the $294,400 median home: transfer tax $1,090, title insurance $840 for both policies, about $1,930 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Dorchester County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Dorchester County (Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA) is $117,500. A family of four counts as low income below $94,000 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby South Carolina counties
- Colleton County $145,900
- Darlington County $141,400
- Dillon County $84,400
- Edgefield County $194,300
- Fairfield County $129,100
- Florence County $165,500
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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