Berkeley County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.5 | 255,217 people · 28th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Berkeley County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.5 — 745th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within South Carolina, it ranks 28th of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Berkeley County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 76.4 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 76.4
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 80
Economic Vitality 69.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Housing Cost Burden 66.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 52
Legal Distress 39.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Structural Poverty 23.3
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 22
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Berkeley County
Berkeley County, SC 63.5 Elevated —
Williamsburg County, SC 81.1 Crisis +17.7
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +15.2
Clarendon County, SC 74.4 Serious +10.9
Dorchester County, SC 67.4 Serious +3.9
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -7.9
Georgetown County, SC 53.8 Elevated -9.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Berkeley County
Guilford County, NC 63.6 Elevated +0.1
Seminole County, FL 63.1 Elevated -0.3
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated +0.4
Pinal County, AZ 62.9 Elevated -0.6
Lee County, FL 64.1 Elevated +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Berkeley County

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 Berkeley 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Berkeley County has a County Distress Index score of 63.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 745th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Berkeley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Berkeley County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 76.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Berkeley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Berkeley County (63.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Williamsburg County, SC (81.1); Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Clarendon County, SC (74.4).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Berkeley County's score of 63.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Berkeley 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 Berkeley County?

    Berkeley County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 255,217 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.