Real Estate Investing in Cheraw, South Carolina (29520)

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

Chesterfield County • Population: 12,860 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29520 (Cheraw, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 19.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Cheraw, SC (29520)?

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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 $161,258
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,724
% Renters 33.3%

Market Analysis: 29520 Cheraw

ZIP 29520 in Cheraw, SC carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $161K and rents of $882/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 29520 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within SC, ZIP 29520 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Chesterfield County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 29520 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 29520 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Cheraw:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 29520

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$62,105/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $186,316 $1,270 4.9% +8.9% $62,105
4BR $285,430 $1,400 3.5% +6.3% $71,357

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$172K$154K$137K$119K$102K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29520 Compare?

Metric 29520 Cheraw South Carolina
Home Value $161,258 $161,258 $299,690
5-Year CAGR 2.6% 2.6% 7.3%
Avg Rent $882 $882 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 29520? Click to expand

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

📊 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 29520 (Cheraw, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $161,258
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
19.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29520

Population: 12,860

💰 Median Household Income
$40,724
This area
$40,724
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.4 years
This area
47.4 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 51.3%
Black/African American 41.1%
Other/Mixed 6.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.9%
This area
19.9%
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 29520

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,849 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Cheraw High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,849 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cheraw Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,849 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cheraw Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,849 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Long Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,849 Per Student
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

1 Nearby 546 Off-Campus Students
C
Northeastern Technical College
1,477 students · 1.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 546 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Cheraw, SC?

Rental rates in Cheraw, SC average $882/mo. Tenant demand and $161K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Are renters plentiful in Cheraw, SC?

Working renters make up the core of the Cheraw, SC tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Cheraw, SC?

Occupancy in Cheraw, SC runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $882/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What does house hacking look like in Cheraw, SC?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Cheraw, SC reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How does Cheraw, SC stack up for property investment?

Yes - Cheraw, SC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $161K home prices against $882/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 29520 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29520 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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