HOAs have a bigger grip on SC than most other states, new Census data shows. Here’s what we mean
Looking for a new home in the Palmetto State? You may want to broaden your budget.
According to newly released data from the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina is one of the top 10 states with the highest percentage of households paying HOA or condo fees – ranking at #9.
The data shows that last year, a fourth of U.S. households across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, totaling 21.6 million households, paid either HOA or condo fees.
For this report, the ACS defined homeowner associations as nonprofit organizations that manage housing, often in planned or gated communities that collect fees to manage common areas and amenities. Condo fees are defined similarly; the only difference noted is that they cover more shared services and structural features like roofs and hallways.
Here’s what to know about this report and how the Palmetto State ranked in other areas.
Top states paying HOA or condo fees
The ACS states that it included both HOA and condo community fees to provide a more complete picture of the cost of homeownership, since both fees operate similarly.
The national average of households that pay HOA fees, is 25%, based on the report.
The top 10 states with the highest percentage of households paying HOA and condo fees are:
- Nevada: 51.3% of households
- Arizona: 44.7% of households
- Florida: 44.3% of households
- Colorado: 42.4% of households
- Hawaii: 42% of households
- Delaware: 40.5% of households
- District of Columbia: 38.6% of households
- Maryland: 37.7% of households
- South Carolina: 34.4% of households
- Texas: 34.3% of households
The survey found that the number of households paying condo and HOA fees was not evenly distributed across the country. States with the smallest share of fee-paying neighborhoods included Maine, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, ranging between 7.7% to 10.5% of households.
What about monthly fees?
When looking at the average cost per month, this survey found that in 2024, about 5.6 million or 26% of homes paid less than $50 a month for condo and HOA fees.
On the other hand, almost 3 million homes paid more than $500 a month, with New York paying the highest monthly average fee of about $739.
While some states had high climbing fees, South Carolina ranked near the middle, at #29, with an average monthly fee of $94.
The report found that the national median monthly fee was $135.
These are the top 10 states with the highest average monthly fees, according to the ACS:
- New York: $739 per month
- District of Columbia: $505 per month
- Hawaii: $470 per month
- Massachusetts: $376 per month
- Connecticut: $351 per month
- New Hampshire: $316 per month
- Rhode Island: $314 per month
- New Jersey: $300 per month
- California: $278 per month
- Minnesota: $269 per month
The state with the cheapest average monthly fee was Arkansas, sitting at $47 per month.
Community associations in South Carolina
According to a 2023 study by the Foundation for Community Association Research, a nonprofit organization that provides research-based information for homeowners and associations, there are roughly 7,400 HOA and condo associations across the Palmetto State, which include larger neighborhoods like Sea Pines in Hilton Head and Briarcliffe Acres in Horry County.
With a high number of communities dotted across the state, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs publishes an annual comprehensive list of the complaints filed against HOA communities.
In the latest report, the top areas of complaints filed to the SCDCA by residents within HOA communities are:
- Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws
- Maintenance and repair
- Consumer disagreement with fees or special assessments
Complaints in the latest report came from 28 of South Carolina’s 46 counties. These were the counties that had the highest number of complaints against their community associations:
- Horry: 117 complaints
- Richland: 58 complaints
- Charleston: 34 complaints
- Greenville: 31 complaints
- Beaufort: 24 complaints
How was this data compiled?
The American Community Survey is an ongoing survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that has been active since 2005. The ACS collects detailed social, economic, housing, and demographic information from a sample of households across the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, releasing information and updates on these areas of focus annually.
The ACS states this data is used to help plan roads, schools, emergency services, and to guide the distribution of government funding.
To view this full report, click here.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
