Calhoun County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.8 | 14,186 people · 22nd most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Calhoun County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.8 — 565th 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 22nd of 46 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Calhoun County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 83.4 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 83.4
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 77
Legal Distress 66.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 67
Structural Poverty 61.5
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Economic Vitality 52.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 30
Housing Cost Burden 40.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 6
Homeownership Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Calhoun County
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious —
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +11.9
Richland County, SC 75.5 Serious +8.8
Clarendon County, SC 74.4 Serious +7.6
Sumter County, SC 74.1 Serious +7.3
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated -10.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Calhoun County
Ouachita County, AR 66.8 Serious +0.0
Rowan County, KY 66.8 Serious +0.0
Wilbarger County, TX 66.7 Serious -0.1
Camp County, TX 66.9 Serious +0.1
Prince Edward County, VA 66.7 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, South Carolina?

    Calhoun County has a County Distress Index score of 66.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 565th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Calhoun County?

    The primary driver of distress in Calhoun County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 83.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Calhoun County compare to neighboring counties?

    Calhoun County (66.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Richland County, SC (75.5); 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 Serious 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). Calhoun County's score of 66.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Calhoun 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 Calhoun County?

    Calhoun County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 14,186 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.