Chester County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.5 | 32,226 people · 18th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Chester County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 70.5 — 368th 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 18th of 46 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chester County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 87.1 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 87.1
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 75
Subprime Credit Population 93
Structural Poverty 76.5
Unemployment Rate 90
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 79
Housing Cost Burden 59.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 30
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Legal Distress 26.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Chester County, SC 70.5 Serious —
Fairfield County, SC 74.7 Serious +4.1
Union County, SC 71.4 Serious +0.9
York County, SC 56.5 Elevated -14.1
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal -21.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Le Flore County, OK 70.5 Serious -0.0
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious +0.0
Lawrence County, AR 70.5 Serious -0.1
Caldwell County, TX 70.5 Serious -0.1
Boone County, WV 70.5 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chester 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 Chester 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 Chester County, South Carolina?

    Chester County has a County Distress Index score of 70.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 368th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chester County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 87.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Chester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chester County (70.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Fairfield County, SC (74.7); Union County, SC (71.4); York County, SC (56.5).

  • 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). Chester County's score of 70.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Chester 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 Chester County?

    Chester County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 32,226 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.