Florence SC Housing Market in 2026: What Buyers Should Know

Florence, South Carolina, is the largest city in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina, sitting at the crossroads of I-95 and I-20 roughly 110 miles, about two hours, northeast of Charleston. For buyers comparing Florence with the Charleston market, the headline is affordability: reported median sale prices in the mid- to high-$200,000s, well below the state median, with inventory rising while well-priced homes still go pending quickly. This article walks through what homes cost in 2026, how Florence compares with the rest of South Carolina, and what the numbers mean for buyers, with every figure presented as a reported estimate to verify with current sources.

I am Denise Rush, a REALTOR® with EXIT Realty Lowcountry Group. I serve the Charleston Tri-County and write for buyers considering the Florence area as a local expert, because the Pee Dee's largest city deserves a straight, well-researched answer about its market, not a sales pitch. The figures below come from public sources including Redfin, Zillow, Resideline, and FRED, and they change, so treat them as a starting point and verify before you make a move.

Where is Florence SC and how far is it from Charleston?

Florence is not a small rural town outside Charleston. It is a regional hub, with a city population of roughly 40,000 and a metro area of roughly 205,000, known across the Pee Dee for its medical centers, including McLeod Health and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center, and its colleges, Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College. The I-95 and I-20 interchange puts Columbia about an hour away, Myrtle Beach about 90 minutes away, and Charleston about two hours away, which makes Florence a practical base for travel in any direction.

What is the median home price in Florence SC in 2026?

The reported numbers for 2026 tell a consistent story, with one honest wrinkle: the sources measure slightly different slices and update on different schedules. Redfin's latest snapshot for the city, as of July 2026 and covering the three months ending June 2026, puts Florence's median sale price at $279,000, up 9.4 percent year over year, with a median price per square foot of $146, up 8.6 percent. Resideline's September 2026 report shows a median closing price of $255,000 across 385 tracked closings over six months, with a median sold price per square foot of $147, and its ZIP 29501 page, updated October 2026, shows a median asking price of $275,000 and a median sold price of $272,000 across 473 tracked closings. Zillow's home value index for the city reads $205,563, up 2.3 percent year over year, and FRED's median listing price series for Florence County, based on Realtor.com data, shows a median listing price of $267,000 as of July 2026. On speed, Zillow reports homes going pending in about 9 days, while Redfin's median days on market reads 78 days, up from 71 a year earlier. Inventory is climbing: a June 2026 Redfin-based analysis reported roughly 1,066 active listings, up 21.9 percent year over year, while FRED's count for the Florence metro area read 612 in August 2026. The market is described as somewhat competitive. All of these are reported estimates from public sources, and the right way to use them is as a range to verify with current listings and a local agent.

How does the Florence SC real estate market compare with the rest of South Carolina?

The comparison that matters most to buyers is the state median. South Carolina's median home price is reported around $360,000 in 2026 estimates, which puts Florence's reported mid- to high-$200,000s median well below the statewide number and makes it one of the more affordable markets in the state. The gap is even wider against the Charleston area, where buyers routinely pay well over the state median for far less square footage. For the same budget that buys a modest home near Charleston, Florence typically delivers a larger home, a yard, and a lower monthly payment.

For the Charleston Tri-County side of that comparison, my market report tracks the same numbers locally.

What the Florence SC housing market means for buyers

Practically, Florence means more house for the money and less bidding-war pressure than Charleston, but it is not a slow market. Zillow reports homes going pending in about 9 days on average, while Redfin's median days on market of 78 days tells the other side of the story: homes that are priced and prepared well move fast, and homes that are not sit longer. Inventory is rising, which gives buyers more choices and more room to negotiate, but the strongest deals still go to prepared buyers who arrive pre-approved and understand the neighborhood and the numbers before they tour.

Florence neighborhoods and lifestyle

Florence is family-friendly and car-dependent, with a downtown that has been steadily reinvested in: locally owned restaurants, events, and the riverfront anchor the city center, while the medical corridor along the main thoroughfares and the newer subdivisions on the edges cover the daily life of most residents. The Great Pee Dee River and parks like Jeffries Creek Park and Timrod Park carry the outdoor life, and the beach at Myrtle Beach is about 90 minutes away.

Start with the Living in Florence guide for the neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, then come back here for the market math.

The honest picture

The honest version matters as much as the numbers. Schools in Florence are served by Florence 1 Schools, and quality varies by area, so verify the school zone for your exact address rather than assuming a neighborhood. Commutes are real: the city is car-dependent, and while the crossroads location is convenient, daily life requires driving. And market data moves, so the figures in this article are a snapshot, not a promise. Verify current pricing, inventory, and rates with a local agent and a lender before you commit.

If you are a first-time buyer, my guide to first-time homebuyer programs in Florence SC covers SC Housing down payment assistance, FHA, USDA, and VA options worth comparing.

Because SC Housing down payment assistance can make Florence's already affordable prices even more reachable, my SC Housing explainer breaks down what the agency is, how its programs work, and how to apply.

Market figures in this article are reported estimates from public sources including Redfin, Zillow, Resideline, and FRED, presented as of October 20, 2026, and subject to change. Verify current prices, inventory, and financing with a local agent and lender. This article is general education, not legal, tax, or lending advice.