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Single Family ResidenceResidential
$1,243,506$1,091 / ft²
TopHap EstimateOur estimate of what this home would sell for today, based on nearby sales, the home's size and features, and local price trends. It is a starting point, not an appraisal.· confidence 93How well the pricing models agreed with each other on this home. Higher means the estimate rests on stronger, more consistent data.· as of Aug 30, 2026

281 E BAY ST

CHARLESTON, SC 29401
2
Beds
1
Baths
1,140 ft²
Living AreaTotal finished area of the structures, from county records. Some counties include shared space like hallways or a building gym, so it may not match a listing.
2,614 ft²
Lot SizeThe size of the land the home sits on, from county records.
1840
Year BuiltThe year the home was originally built, according to county records.
2
StoriesHow many floors the home has above ground.

Valuation

$1.2M
$1.2M low$1.3M high

Tax & Assessment

Property TaxThe property tax billed for this tax year. It usually pays for schools, roads, and local services.$4,099 (2024)
Assessed ValueThe value the county assigns to this home to calculate property tax. It is often lower than what the home would sell for.$32,000 (2024)
Previous AssessedThe county's assessed value from the year before, useful for seeing how the assessment changed.$32,000
Assessor Market ValueThe county assessor's own opinion of market value. It is separate from our estimate and updates on the county's schedule.$800,000

Climate Risk

Projected Flood DepthHow deep a serious flood is expected to get here at some point in the next 30 years. Shown in inches.48 in
30-Year Flood ChanceThe chance of at least one serious flood here in the next 30 years, not in any single year.98%

Scores 0–100; higher = greater projected risk.

Property Facts

Property TypeThe broad category the county puts this property in, such as residential or commercial.Single Family Residence
StyleThe architectural style of the home, such as ranch or colonial.Cottage House
CountyCharleston
Lot (acres)The size of the land the home sits on, from county records.0.06
FoundationWhat the home is built on, such as a concrete slab, a crawl space, or a basement.Mat/Raft Foundation (Slab)
HeatingThe type of heating system in the home.Floor/Wall Furnace
CoolingThe type of cooling or air conditioning in the home.None
FireplaceWhether the home has a fireplace, and what kind.Yes
PoolWhether the property has a pool, and what kind, such as in-ground.No
FeaturesExtra features found in county records. Records are not complete everywhere, so a missing feature does not always mean the home lacks it.Porch · 186 ft²

Transaction History(7)

Sales and refinances filed with the county for this home. Not every transfer is a normal sale, so check the type before comparing prices.

Assigned SchoolsThe public schools this address is zoned for. Boundaries change, so confirm with the district before you count on it.

E
Memminger School Of Global StudiesD-
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 0.5 mi
M
Simmons-Pinckney Middle SchoolC-
Middle · Grades 6–8 · 1.6 mi
H
Burke High SchoolF
High · Grades 9–12 · 1.6 mi

District: Charleston County School District

Neighborhood · ZIP 29401These are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.160
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.82
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.323

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.77%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.39%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.14%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.0.8%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.10,799
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.3,099 / mi²
Median incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$90,669
Average incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$141,014
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.66°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.48 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.63%

Owner Tools

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Data by ATTOM. Valuations are automated estimates, not appraisals. Photos from Google Street View and may not depict the current property state.

How this home compares

281 E Bay St measured against every home in its neighborhood, its ZIP code and its county, using county assessor records refreshed nightly. A home can stand out in one of those areas and look ordinary in another, because each one holds a different mix of homes.

  • Worth more than 82% of homes in Charleston County
  • Costs more per square foot than 96% of homes in Charleston County
  • Smaller than 80% of homes in Charleston County
  • Has a smaller lot than 93% of homes in Charleston County
  • Among the oldest homes in Charleston County

What homes are worth in Charleston 29401

Each bar is how many homes fall in that price range. The marker is this home.

This home
$309K$8.8M

This home is worth more than 37% of homes in Charleston 29401.

How it measures up in Charleston 29401

The dot is this home. The mark in the middle is the typical home in Charleston 29401.

Estimated value$1,243,506
CheaperTypical $1,720,215Pricier

Pricier than 37% of homes nearby

Price per ft²$1091
CheaperTypical $964Pricier

Pricier than 64% of homes nearby

Living area1,140 ft²
SmallerTypical 1,907 ft²Bigger

Bigger than 22% of homes nearby

Lot size2,614 ft²
SmallerTypical 0.1 acBigger

Bigger than 27% of homes nearby

Year built1840
OlderTypical 1920Newer

Newer than 18% of homes nearby

How 281 E Bay St ranks against every home in each area.
MeasureThis homeAnsonboroughCharleston 29401Charleston County
Estimated valuepricier than$1,243,50637% of homes37% of homes82% of homes
Price per ft²pricier than$109173% of homes64% of homes96% of homes
Living areabigger than1,140 ft²33% of homes22% of homes20% of homes
Lot sizebigger than2,614 ft²32% of homes27% of homes7% of homes
Year builtnewer than184036% of homes18% of homesalmost no homes

About 281 E Bay St

How much is 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC worth?

The TopHap Estimate for 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC is $1,243,506 as of Aug 30, 2026. The likely range is $1,151,953 to $1,335,058. The estimate is modelled from recorded sales, assessments and the property's own characteristics — it is not an appraisal.

When did 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC last sell?

281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC last sold on Dec 17, 2021, according to the county's recorded deed. TopHap holds 5 recorded sales for this parcel.

How big is 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC?

281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 1,140 square feet of living space and a 0.06-acre lot.

When was 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC built?

281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC was built in 1840, making it 186 years old. It is a cottage house home. The building has 2 stories.

What schools serve 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC?

281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC is assigned to Memminger School Of Global Studies (elementary), rated D-; Simmons-Pinckney Middle School (middle), rated C-; Burke High School (high), rated F. All sit in Charleston County School District. Attendance boundaries change — confirm with the district before relying on an assignment.

How does 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC compare to other homes in Charleston 29401?

Among the 4,082 homes in Charleston 29401, it is worth more than 37% of them ($1,243,506 against a typical $1,720,215), its price per square foot is higher than 64% of them ($1091 against a typical $964), it is bigger than 22% of them (1,140 ft² against a typical 1,907 ft²), its lot is bigger than 27% of them (2,614 ft² against a typical 0.1 ac) and it is newer than 18% of them (1840 against a typical 1920). Measured against all of Charleston County, it is worth more than 82% of homes there. These shares are recounted nightly from the full county assessor record for each area, not from active listings.

What are the property taxes on 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC?

The 2024 property tax bill for 281 E Bay St, Charleston, SC was $4,099. The county assessed it at $32,000.

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