Beaufort County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.4 | 198,979 people · 44th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Beaufort County, SC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.4 — 1688th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within South Carolina, it ranks 44th of 46 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Beaufort County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 74.1 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 74.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Housing Cost Burden 66.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 43
Consumer Credit Distress 45.2
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 35
Structural Poverty 25.4
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 30
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 19
Legal Distress 23.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 23

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Beaufort County
Beaufort County, SC 48.4 Normal —
Colleton County, SC 75.3 Serious +26.9
Hampton County, SC 73.3 Serious +24.9
Jasper County, SC 59.3 Elevated +10.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Beaufort County
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal +0.1
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal +0.1
Mercer County, PA 48.5 Normal +0.1
Lewis County, WA 48.5 Normal +0.1
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Beaufort County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Beaufort County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Beaufort County.

CCCS OF THE SAVANNAH AREA, INC.- SC BRANCH
Beaufort
843-379-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in South Carolina →

Find an Attorney

South Carolina Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

South Carolina Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 803-799-7100

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Beaufort County residents at no cost.

SC Legal Services (Palmetto Legal Services / Greater Columbia Community Relations Council) 1-888-346-5592
Upstate Legal Services 864-679-3232
Pro Bono Legal Services — SC Bar 803-799-6653
Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services 843-853-3304
South Carolina Legal Services, Inc. (888) 346-5592

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in South Carolina →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Beaufort County, South Carolina?

    Beaufort County has a County Distress Index score of 48.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,688th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Beaufort County?

    The primary driver of distress in Beaufort County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 74.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Beaufort County compare to neighboring counties?

    Beaufort County (48.4) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Colleton County, SC (75.3); Hampton County, SC (73.3); Jasper County, SC (59.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Beaufort County's score of 48.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Beaufort County's CDI score?

    Beaufort County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Beaufort County?

    Beaufort County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 198,979 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.