Real Estate Investing in Darlington, South Carolina (29532)

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

Darlington County • Population: 20,272 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29532 (Darlington, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $39,553 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Darlington, SC (29532)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $157,067
Avg Monthly Rent $1,275
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $39,553
% Renters 39.4%

Market Analysis: 29532 Darlington

The 29532 ZIP covers a section of Darlington that demands careful diligence. Prices near $157K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 29532 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $157K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 29532's metrics run below Darlington County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A resilient renter share of 39% in 29532 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Darlington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,275/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Florence, SC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Florence, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29532

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
10.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$37,573/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $75,146 $1,110 10.6% +4.9% $37,573
3BR $158,269 $1,330 6.1% +5.5% $52,756
4BR $247,640 $1,520 4.4% +6.6% $61,910

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$164K$150K$136K$123K$109K$95KJan 2011Oct 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,302$1,296$1,290$1,285$1,279$1,273May 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29532 Compare?

Metric 29532 Darlington Florence, SC South Carolina
Home Value $157,067 $103,532 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 3.9% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,275 $1,106 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.3% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29532? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% 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 29532 (Darlington, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.3%
Good
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Florence, SC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
2/2
66 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $157,067
Monthly Rent $1,275
Price-to-Rent 10.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.7%
Cap Rate 6.3%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.3%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
17.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29532

Population: 20,272

💰 Median Household Income
$39,553
This area
$39,553
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.4%
This area
39.4%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.1 years
This area
44.1 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.6%
This area
17.6%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 56.2%
White 39.8%
Other/Mixed 3.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
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 29532

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$17,417 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

St. John's Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
567 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Brockington Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A+ Excellent

J. L. Cain Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
569 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mayo High For Math Science & Technology

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pate Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A Very Good

Darlington High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
990 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
A Very Good

Darlington Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
895 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,417 Per Student
B Good

Darlington County Institute of Technology

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$17,417 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

4 Nearby 961 Off-Campus Students
C
Florence-Darlington Technical College
3,521 students · 3.5 mi
C
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence
178 students · 4.0 mi
C+
Francis Marion University
4,017 students · 13.1 mi
D
Coker University
1,263 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 961 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Darlington, SC?

The typical rental in Darlington, SC commands about $1,275/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $157K purchase basis.

What investment strategy works best in Darlington, SC?

In Darlington, SC the robust play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $157K prices and $1,275/mo rents suits that approach.

How high is vacancy risk in Darlington, SC?

Darlington, SC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,275/mo.

Is Darlington, SC suited for a house hack?

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

Does Darlington, SC make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Darlington, SC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $157K and rents of $1,275/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 29532 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29532 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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How 29532 ranks in Florence, SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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