Real Estate Investing in Orangeburg, South Carolina (29118)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Orangeburg County • Population: 15,676 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29118 (Orangeburg, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Orangeburg, SC (29118)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $234,079
Avg Monthly Rent $1,399
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,599
% Renters 35.2%

Market Analysis: 29118 Orangeburg

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Orangeburg's 29118 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $234K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 29118 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $234K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 29118 among SC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 29118 ZIP's population of 15,676 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Orangeburg's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 29118. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Orangeburg:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,399/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Orangeburg, SC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Orangeburg, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29118

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$60,246/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $120,492 $1,170 7.0% +8.1% $60,246
3BR $217,707 $1,500 5.0% +8.1% $72,569
4BR $299,049 $1,800 4.3% +7.2% $74,762
5BR $397,186 +6.8% $79,437

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$245K$221K$196K$172K$147K$123KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,412$1,399$1,386$1,374$1,361$1,348Jan 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 29118 Compare?

Metric 29118 Orangeburg Orangeburg, SC South Carolina
Home Value $234,079 $120,317 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 3.3% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,399 $1,207 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29118? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 35% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29118 (Orangeburg, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Orangeburg, SC metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $234,079
Monthly Rent $1,399
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29118

Population: 15,676

💰 Median Household Income
$54,599
This area
$54,599
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.2%
This area
35.2%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.0 years
This area
38.0 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 62.7%
White 32.5%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Asian 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 29118

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,538 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Marshall Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
646 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,538 Per Student
B Good

Orangeburg Wilkinson High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,050 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,538 Per Student
B Good

OCSD High School for Health Professions

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
C Below Average

The Orangeburg Career & Technology Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 972 Off-Campus Students
C
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
2,146 students · 4.2 mi
C+
Claflin University
1,835 students · 5.5 mi
C
South Carolina State University
3,041 students · 5.7 mi
D
Barber Tech Academy
67 students · 5.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 972 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Orangeburg, SC for real estate investors?

Orangeburg, SC rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $234K and rents near $1,399/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How much rent can I charge in Orangeburg, SC?

Rents in Orangeburg, SC run near $1,399/mo. Compared with median home prices of $234K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Orangeburg, SC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Orangeburg, SC. Rents at $1,399/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How do experienced investors play Orangeburg, SC?

The best-fit strategy in Orangeburg, SC is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is Orangeburg, SC landlord-friendly?

SC law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Orangeburg inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 29118 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29118 ranks in Orangeburg, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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