Your Aiken, SC Real Estate Questions Answered

Are you considering living in Aiken, South Carolina? What started as a winter resort for the rich and famous is now a great place to live for all ages and lifestyles. While close to Augusta and Savannah, Georgia, Aiken offers the lower cost of living of South Carolina while still providing excellent schools, dining, and housing options. If you want to live in a place with abundant things to do and ample southern hospitality, Aiken, SC, could be perfect for you.

The Aiken real estate market provides residents and potential buyers with many choices, from condos to sprawling ranch estates. Our guide answers frequently asked questions about Aiken real estate to assist with your home search. 

What is the average price of a home in Aiken, SC?

Aiken had 524 real estate listings in October 2021. The median list price was $291,814, and the average price per square foot was $158.30. On the low end of the spectrum, the market had properties ideal for real estate investment or fixer-upper potential, starting at $54,900. The top end of the market had a listing in Aiken Golf Club for $3.4 million with 10,149 sq ft of space on a one-acre lot. 

Residential real estate prices change based on overarching market factors, seasonal shifts, and supply and demand. See the most recent information on Aiken real estate listings using EZ Home Search. Our database updates every 15 minutes. 

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Aiken, SC? 

You can find condos and townhomes in Aiken, SC, but there are fewer available properties. The market ranged from $65,900 for a 957 sq ft condo to $749,000 for a 4,067 sq ft townhome.  

What is the property tax rate in Aiken, SC?

South Carolina residents are assessed a 4% tax rate for their primary residence. Aiken County had a millage rate of 0.06850 in 2020, covering county operations, higher education, and solid waste disposal. The City of Aiken had a millage rate of 0.06200. There were special fees for residential fire, road maintenance, and stormwater drainage. 

What county is Aiken, SC in?

The city of Aiken lies inside Aiken County. Located in the southwestern Sandhills region of South Carolina, where you’ll find a landscape of rolling hills and tall pine trees. Aiken is between Lexington County, South Carolina, and Georgia. 

Aiken County and the county seat were named after William Aiken, Sr, president of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company, the first commercial railroad in South Carolina. For most of its history, Aiken remained a rural and sparsely populated area. The railroad brought affluent northerners and Charleston residents into Aiken, who turned it into a winter resort with some of the south’s first golf courses. Equestrian activities took off in the 1920s. Today Aiken is a destination for horse trainers and riders. 

While tourism remains important to Aiken’s economy, the county’s use as a nuclear research site has been pivotal to its development. The top employers include Hubbell Power Systems, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Remediation, the University of South Carolina, and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation. 

Is Aiken, SC Growing? 

The city of Aiken reported 32,025 residents in the 2020 US Census, a 7.8% increase from the 2010 count. Over 26% of the population was 65 and older, while 18.2% was 18 years or younger.

For the whole county, the US Census Bureau counted the county population in April 2020 as 168,808 residents, a 5% growth in the number of new residents from April 2010. South Carolina projects the county population to reach 178,735 residents by 2030. 

Are there any waterfront properties found in Aiken, SC? 

Aiken is an inland community surrounded by rolling hills. Beachfront property is not found in Aiken, and other forms of waterfront are not common. The Savannah River does form the southwestern county border; the river is about a half-hour drive from downtown Aiken.

Is there lakefront or riverfront property in Aiken, SC?

Within the Aiken city limits, there are not abundant lakefront or riverfront options. You can find some lakefront properties, although these are rare and highly coveted. The lakes are small and span a few dozen acres at most. Examples include Holley Lake and Gem Lakes. Some properties sit along McTier Creek, Hollow Creek, and Sand River. Woodside has some properties around a lake on its developed lots.

How is golf in Aiken, SC?

Aiken has historic courses like the Palmetto Golf Club, constructed circa 1892, and the Aiken Golf Club, built-in 1912. Both courses are located in beautiful downtown Aiken, SC. More contemporary courses are found at Woodside Plantation and The Reserve at Woodside. 

Cedar Creek Golf Club is a semi-private club recognized in the 2008-2009 editions of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” It has a wooded feel and 6,939 yards of play. Its sister club, the Aiken Golf Club, hosts the City Amateur tournament and has a golf pro on staff. The Houndslake Country Club centers around a 27-hole Championship golf course designed in 1974, with additional amenities like a swimming pool, tennis, and dining.

Slightly further afield, around an hour’s drive, is the world-renowned Augusta National and the site of Masters Golf Tournament. 

Are there golf course communities in Aiken, SC? 

Woodside is a private, gated golf course community covering more than 2,900 acres of countryside in Aiken. Rees Jones, Bob Cupp, Nicklaus Design, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Clyde Johnston designed the championship courses here. Several acres are dedicated to a park and bluebird sanctuary. The community has some distinctive neighborhoods: The Highlands, The Reserve Club, the Townhomes at Bellewood, and the Overlook. 

While not a community, Cedar Creek does have homes in a serene setting along a rolling, emerald-green 18-hole course. 

Are there equestrian communities in Aiken?

Yes, Aiken has four equestrian residential communities.

Tod’s Hill is the closest community to downtown Aiken. It offers varied lot sizes in a gated community with private riding trails.

Fox Hollow is one equestrian development with residential lots, a beautiful community, and lots of riding space. Many homes back up to the wooded Boyd Pond Park. The development has an equitation ring, dressage arena, jumper ring, and cross country course. 

New Bridge is an 861-acre private, gated equestrian community nestled among rolling pasture lands. The amenities include a polo field, clubhouse, a full-care boarding at the stables.

Three Rivers Plantation is a 2,400-acre master-planned community with 30 miles of groomed and marked riding trails. It has two horse complexes, both with a competition-level jump arena and mirrored dressage arena. One complex has an X-Country Schooling course. Homesites start at five acres. 

What areas are near Aiken, SC?

Inside the county borders, you’ll find the suburb of North Augusta, which is across the river from Augusta, Georgia. Other towns near the border serve as Augusta suburbs, like Clearwater and Burnettown. Gloverville has Langley Pond, which does not have residential lots. 

Just thirty minutes drive from Aiken over the Savannah River awaits Augusta, Georgia. The town is a center for world-class golf and provides amenities expected of a metropolitan area. State capital Columbia is just under an hour by car. If you’re itching for a day at the beach, Hilton Head Island, SC, and Savannah, Georgia are both about 2.5 hours away.

Living in Aiken, SC

As you can see, Aiken offers variety in its real estate options. Enjoy spacious lots, golf neighborhoods, equestrian communities, and more choices. The Aiken real estate market has a property to suit every style and taste, whether you’re looking for a vacation home or a primary residence. If you have any other questions about living in Aiken, please let us know!