Dorchester County, SC Property Tax Rate
Homeowners in Dorchester County pay an effective 0.58% of home value in property tax — about $1,708 a year on the median $294,400 home, above the South Carolina county median of 0.53%.
Dorchester County, SC: 0.58% effective property tax — ~$1,708/yr on the median home.
- Effective rate0.58%
- Median home value$294,400
- Median annual bill$1,708
- SC county median0.53%
- U.S. county median0.84%
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2023 5-year (median taxes paid ÷ median value), compiled June 2026.
Dorchester County vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
| Effective rate | On the county's $294,400 median home | |
|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | 0.58% | $1,708 |
| South Carolina county median | 0.53% | $1,560 |
| U.S. county median | 0.84% | $2,473 |
Median household income here is $76,896, putting the median tax bill at about 2.2% of income. Effective rates fold in homestead exemptions and assessment practice — they're what owners actually pay, which is why they beat statutory rates for comparison.
Highest & lowest rates in South Carolina
| County | Effective rate | Median bill |
|---|---|---|
| Allendale County | 0.88% | $542 |
| Bamberg County | 0.83% | $797 |
| Hampton County | 0.81% | $829 |
| Barnwell County | 0.74% | $719 |
| Horry County | 0.34% | $886 |
| Pickens County | 0.38% | $821 |
| Oconee County | 0.39% | $847 |
| Charleston County | 0.41% | $1,848 |
Full picture: South Carolina property tax calculator · interactive county atlas · all county pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Dorchester County, SC?
The effective rate is about 0.58% of home value — the median homeowner pays roughly $1,708 a year on a $294,400 median home (ACS 2023 five-year data).
Is Dorchester County's property tax high?
It's above the South Carolina county median (0.53%) and below the U.S. county median (0.84%).
How is the effective rate calculated?
Median real-estate taxes paid ÷ median home value, from the Census American Community Survey — what owners actually pay, after exemptions, rather than the statutory millage.
Sources & methodology
Sources: Census ACS 2023 5-year tables B25103/B25077.
Effective rate = median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value (owner-occupied). Individual bills vary with exemptions, assessment timing and local levies — verify with the county assessor.