Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Upstate

Centerville leads the Upstate in rent burden, with 68.9% of renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing — a level that exceeds the national affordability threshold by a wide margin. This is not just a cost issue; it’s a sign of deeper structural imbalance in income, supply, and opportunity. How can a region grow economically while leaving renters behind? The data from ALEX Intelligence’s 2026 Upstate Rent Burden Report shows Centerville is ground zero for this tension. https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-29-upstate-sc-rent-burden-place-mkt This insight matters for investors, policymakers, and residents alike: affordability is not just about price, but about whether the market serves everyone — not just those who can pay premium rents. The Upstate’s growth is real, but its sustainability depends on how it manages this hidden crisis. Renters Over the 30% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Centerville — 68.9% #2 Travelers Rest — 63.0% #3 Parker — 61.2% #4 Berea — 60.6% #5 Gantt — 54.7% #6 Sans Souci — 53.6% #7 Laurens — 52.9% #8 Powdersville — 51.8% #9 Five Forks — 50.7% #10 Spartanburg — 49.9% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: PegasusRacer28 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=74688603; Slide 2: P. Hughes (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=124720005; Slide 3: Bmzuckerman (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=162291635; Slide 4: Mxland (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=21847369 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-29-upstate-sc-rent-burden-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902